DE10261261A1 - Medical muscle and nerve stimulation method in which the stimulation signals are controlled directly or indirectly based on previously recorded electromyogram curves - Google Patents

Abstract

Stimulation of muscles and or nerves using electrical stimulation signals, whereby the stimulation signal parameters, e.g. current amplitude and impulse width, are controlled directly or indirectly based on previously recorded EMG (electromyogram) curves.

Description

Luigi Galvani found out in 1780 With frogs' legs, try to find out that muscles are electrical Let electricity stimulate.

In the medical field electrostimulation devices today for muscle training and pain treatment (TENS = Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve stimulation). By means of electrical impulses via electrodes either the muscles contract or certain physiological ones operations triggered on the nerves.

It is characteristic that the impulse sequences over one Generating more or less complex generator synthetically - that's enough from a simple analog oscillator circuit to micro-computer generated variable pulse trains. Since the application of constant electrical Parameters (frequency, pulse width, pulse height) for unwanted habituation effects leads to the muscles or nerves, temporal modulations of parameters are now common (e.g. Frequency, amplitude or pulse width modulation or mixed forms thereof).

The body's control of the Muscles, however, are far more complex and have not been so far Completely explored. A whole muscle consists of a large number of individual ones contractive single fibers. The brain only controls the interaction of various whole muscles. However, the behavior of the individual fibers within a muscle is very dynamic and partly self-organized.

On the one hand there is the problem that through the synthetically generated stimulation pattern a habituation effect occurs on the muscles, so the effectiveness of the stimulation decreases with increasing duration. On the other hand, the synthetic Signals are often perceived as unpleasant, which reduces the acceptance of the devices. These problems are solved by the features listed in claim 1 solved.

In this process based on EMG signals do not cause muscle cramps and the necessary reduce electrical energy and thus undesirable side effects itself (EMG = electromyogram). Compared to conventional pulse forms felt the stimulation as significantly more pleasant.

As most electrical stimulation devices nowadays portable and battery operated, there is also the requirement after energy-effective stimulation to achieve long terms with a To achieve battery or battery charge. Here the invention has the advantage that stimulates effectively with comparatively little energy input can be.

The EMG signals from sick muscles are different from those of healthy muscles. Of course it is possible, the activity of healthy muscles and for stimulating sick people Muscles to use.

Instead of real EMG signals, data can also be used used that artificially are generated by calculation algorithms and have typical EMG shapes, i.e. have a pseudo-stochastic basic pattern.

An embodiment is shown in the drawing and will be closer in the following described.

About electrodes ( 1 ) the muscle activity signals (EMG) during body movement or static muscle tension are amplified ( 2 ) recorded, preprocessed (rectification, filtering) and stored in a time grid (e.g. every 10 ms) as a time track (see 2 ).

These activity values are the basis for the generation of the stimulation values. The stimulator sends ( 4 ) Current pulses with a fixed or variable frequency (mostly in the range of 20 - 100 Hz). The current strength or the width of the pulses or the pulse packets and thus the applied energy is determined by the previously recorded EMG signal (see 3 ). A muscle-typical control signal is thus supplied to the muscle.

For the procedure makes no difference whether a time track is stored in the range <1sec and is repeated cyclically, or whether a longer sequence in the minutes range is saved.

1

electrodes

2

EMG amplifier

3

Storage for series of measurements

4

microcomputer

5

controllable stimulator

Claims (8)

Stimulation of muscles and / or nerves by means of electrical stimulation signals, characterized in that the temporal course of the stimulation signals is controlled in essential parameters (eg current intensity, pulse width) directly or indirectly by the previously recorded temporal course of EMG values, the mapping of the EMG values on the stimulation parameters is quasi-analog and therefore goes beyond mere triggering. Like claim 1, characterized in that the pre-recorded and / or is processed, e.g. by rectification or filtering. Like claim 1, characterized in that the Clock and thus the playback speed is reduced or elevated becomes. As claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the EMG values of one muscle are recorded and the stimulation on another muscle kel is applied. Like claim 1, characterized in that the EMG signals are not stored, but rather in real time to stimulate one other muscle over one second pair of electrodes are used, the EMG measuring amplifier with one pair of electrodes and the stimulator with another pair Electrodes are made separately. Like claim 1, characterized in that the Control data obtained by EMG signals are reproduced and then independent from the original Recording in stimulation devices for the Signal generation can be used. Like claim 1, characterized in that a EMG-like Base signal generated based on a noise source and / or software algorithms becomes. Like claim 1, characterized in that the EMG recording and / or stimulation implemented for several similar channels becomes.