GB2511524A

GB2511524A - Electrode apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2511524A
Application number: GB1303931.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Lomas Jones
Original assignee: ULTRATONE SCIENT INSTR Ltd
Current assignee: ULTRATONE SCIENT INSTR Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-05
Filing date: 2013-03-05
Publication date: 2014-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-05
Also published as: GB201303931D0; GB2511524B

Abstract

A muscle stimulation electrode 7 comprises a backing element 10 sandwiched between an electrode contact 9 and an electrode 11. The backing element 10 has a concave lower portion and a curved lower body application surface (17, figure 4) for holding the electrode against a subject and is transparent or translucent to disperse light from LEDs (14, figure 3) in the electrode contact 9. The electrode contact 9 has an annular ring 19 which forms an interference fit within an aperture 15 of the backing element 10 which also includes a channel 16 for a connection cable.

Description

Electrode Apparatus The present invention relates to electronic muscle stimulators. Such devices can be used for muscle rehabilitation, muscle strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction, slimming, shaping, detox applications, and toning. They operate by way of electrodes applied on the skin that apply an electric current, prompting activation of muscles local to the electrode.

In this connection, electronic muscle stimulators are typically comprised of a control console to which is connected a body applicator manifold from which a number of electrodes extend for placement on a subject requiring treatment.

Effective electronic muscle stimulation requires correct placement of the electrodes. In this regard, known electrodes are applied to the skin of a subject and retained there by means of a self-adhesive surface. The electrode has a cable electrically coupled thereto, which itself is connectable to the control console, via the body applicator manifold, which controls its activation.

Such known self-adhesive electrodes may include couplings on their cabling, and the cable couplings can include lights, which can be illuminated to assist in electrode identification.

An object of the present invention is to seek to alleviate problems with such conventional electrodes.

According to the present invention there is provided a backing element for use with a muscle stimulation electrode, said backing element comprising a body member having a body application surface for holding an electrode against a subject, said body application surface having a concave profile. Preferably, said body application surface is curved. In this regard, the backing element can ensure an electrode, with which it is in contact, has a suitable profile for promoting contact with a subject's body.

The backing element is preferably translucent. In this regard, the backing element can diffuse light applied thereto from an illuminated electrode contact used therewith.

S Conveniently, said body member is formed of a resilient material having a shore hardness of between 10 and 30 (International Rubber Hardness Degrees), and more preferably the shore hardness of the body member is 20 (International Rubber Hardness Degrees). The body member of the backing element needs to be sufficiently flexible so that it can adapt to different curvatures of the surface to which it is being applied.

The radius of curvature of the body application surface is preferably between 75mm and 95mm, and more preferably is 85mm.

Conveniently, the body member has an aperture for receiving an electrode contact. The aperture is preferably dimensioned to have an interference fit with an electrode contact provided therein. In this manner the electrode contact can be neatly and securely housed within the backing element.

The aperture may include a channel for a cable extending from an electrode contact provided within the aperture. Preferably, said channel runs normal to the plane of curvature of the body member. In this way, the electrode contact cable will not be forced to bend within the backing element, thereby promoting secure housing of the electrode contact within the backing element.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided electronic muscle stimulation apparatus comprising:-an electrode contact member; a backing element; and an electrode; wherein the backing element is provided between the electrode contact member and the electrode. Providing the components as separate elements allows each element to be refurbished, cleaned or disposed of as appropriate.

The backing element preferably has a concave surface in contact with the electrode, the concave surface having a radius of curvature from 75mm to 95mm. Preferably, said electrode has a contact stud for connection with a corresponding connector provided on the electrode contact member. This provides for a secure coupling between the electrode contact and the electrode.

S The backing element preferably has a shore hardness in the range of 10 to 30, and more preferably the shore hardness is 20.

The electrode contact member is conveniently provided with illumination means.

Preferably, such illumination means takes the form of a plurality of LEDs arranged around a central electrical coupling.

The backing element is preferably translucent to diffuse light applied thereto by said illumination means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided electrode apparatus for use with an electronic muscle stimulation device; said electrode apparatus comprising an electrode for affording muscle stimulation, and illumination means for affording illumination at said electrode.

Preferably, the electrode apparatus comprises an electrode contact having a central electrical coupling for connecting to an electrode, and a plurality of LEDs distributed around said electrical coupling. Preferably, the plurality of LEDs is spaced circumferentially around said electrical coupling. Such an arrangement provides an electrode where the LEDs can be used for identification purposes, but also for chromo-therapy treatments.

Conveniently, the electrode apparatus has an outer annular side wall, said side wall having an annular retention ring for promoting retention of the electrode contact within the aperture of a backing element used therewith.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an electronic stimulation apparatus incorporating electrodes of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of an electrode in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective internal view of an electrode in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 shows a perspective front view of a backing element according to the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an electrode as applied to a subject in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a control console 1 having a power supply 2, and a display 3, the console being provided in the form of a trolley 4. The control console is in communication with an applicator unit 6 by means of cabling 5. A plurality of electrodes 7 extend from said applicator unit 6 by way of cables 8.

Turning to Figure 2, each electrode 7 comprises three main components, namely an electrode contact 9, a backing element 10 and a self-adhesive electrode 11.

The backing element 10 is sandwiched between the electrode contact 9 and the electrode 11, the electrode having a stud contact 1 2, which connects with a corresponding connector 13 (shown in Figure 3) on the electrode contact 9.

Figure 3 shows in this respect a view of the electrode contact from below with the bottom cover removed. In this regard, the electrode contact has six L[D lights 14 positioned circumferentially around a downwardly facing surface of the electrode contact. The LEDs 14 are spaced equidistantly around the periphery of the electrode contact so as to provide a uniform lighting arrangement. Of course, whilst six LED lights are shown, other suitable numbers may be used as appropriate.

The electrode contact 9 is seated within an aperture 15 in the backing element 10. The aperture 15 is dimensioned to have an interference fit with the electrode contact 9 and includes a channel 16 for a connection cable of the electrode contact.

As shown in Figure 4, the backing element 10 has a concave lower portion and is formed with a curve on its downward facing surface 17, the curve having a radius of between 80mm and 90mm, and more preferably 85mm.

In this connection, the applicants of the present invention wished to have an illuminated electrode arrangement that illuminated over substantially the whole area of the electrode. This was to serve a number of purposes, namely to assist in electrode identification, to improve the overall aesthetics of the electrodes and also to provide chromo-therapeutic effects. This gave rise to the concept of using a backing element 10 with the electrode. As discussed in the preferred examples, this needed to be flexible to follow the curve of body parts, and translucent to spread the light from the illuminated contact. The curve was developed when trial flat backing pieces caused the edges of the self-adhesive electrode to lift even when relatively soft rubber was used. The concave shape of the backing element solved this problem.

In this regard, the concave shape of the backing element ensures that the effectiveness of the electrode is not comprised when applied to curved parts of the body, for example the thighs, arms, calves. Hence, as shown in Figure 5, on curved parts of the body 20, this pre-shaping assists to maintain the electrode in full contact, and further on flat areas the backing element readily flattens/straightens, again to maintain full contact with the body.

In this regard, the backing element is formed of a moulded silicon rubber (IRHD -IRHD: International Rubber Hardness Degrees). Whilst a shore hardness of IRHD is preferred, alternative hardnesses are possible, but should be in the range of 10 to 30 IRHD. Silicon rubber is also preferred because of its high biocompatibility, although alternative similar materials having suitable flexibility may be used.

The engaging surfaces of the electrode contact 9 and backing element 10 are profiled so as to positively engage the electrode contact within the aperture 15.

In this respect, the electrode contact 9 is provided with a curvature on its outer peripheral edge 18 and/or an annular ring 19 that promotes retention of the electrode contact within the aperture 1 5. The annular ring 19 may project outwardly from said edge 18 and/or may be formed of a material that resists movement relative to the material of the backing element. In other words, the annular ring 19 can be formed of a non-slip material.

As discussed above, the backing element 10 is moreover formed of a transparent or translucent material configured to disperse and/or diffuse light projected into it from the LEDs 14 of the electrode contact 9.

In this regard, the electrode arrangement of the present invention incorporates a close coupled illuminator connector which disperses light over a wide area for chromo-therapeutic effects. The material of the back element is therefore chosen so as to have dispersion/diffusion effects for light transmitted therethrough.

The backing element moreover has a 75mm diameter to suit a 70mm diameter self-adhesive electrode. This provides a good compromise on current density when applying electro-stimulation versus the actual space required for the electrode on the body. In this regard, if the electrode is too large, then it is impossible to fit all the required electrodes into the space available.

In use, the backing element 10 is sandwiched between an electrode contact 9 and the self-adhesive electrode 1 1, the electrode contact and the electrode snapping together with the stud contact 12 and the corresponding connector 13.

An operator of the stimulation apparatus will assemble the electrodes as shown in Figure 2 and then apply the electrodes to a subject as directed from the display on the control console, as shown in Figure 5. In this regard, individual electrodes can be illuminated from the control of the console in a specific order so as to ease the application process.

Once the treatment has been finished, the electrodes can be disassembled and the backing element 10 and electrodes 11 can be replaced for a new subject.

The backing element can moreover be reused, once it has been cleaned.

It will be understood that features in the above example can be varied within the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, whilst the backing element is shown as a separate member from the electrode contact and the self-adhesive electrode, the backing element could be provided as a single member integrated together with the electrode contact and/or the self-adhesive electrode.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A backing element for use with a muscle stimulation electrode, said backing element comprising a body member having a body application surface S for holding an electrode against a subject, said body application surface having a concave profile.
2. A backing element according to claim 1, wherein said body application surface is curved.
3. A backing element according to claim 1 or 2, comprising translucent material.
4. A backing element according to any preceding claim, wherein said body member is formed of a resilient material having a shore hardness of between 10 and 30 (International Rubber Hardness Degrees).
5. A backing element according to claim 4, wherein the shore hardness of the body member is 20 (International Rubber Hardness Degrees).
6. A backing element according to any preceding claim, wherein the radius of curvature of the body application surface is between 75mm and 95mm.
7. A backing element according to claim 6, wherein the radius of curvature of the body application surface is 85mm.
8. A backing element according to any preceding claim, wherein the body member has an aperture for receiving an electrode contact.
9. A backing element according to claim 8, wherein the aperture is dimensioned to have an interference fit with an electrode contact provided therein.
10. A backing element according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the aperture includes a channel for a cable extending from an electrode contact provided within the aperture.
1 1. A backing element according to claim 10, wherein said channel runs normal to the plane of curvature of the body member.
1 2. Electronic muscle stimulation apparatus comprising:-an electrode contact member; a backing element; and an electrode; wherein the backing element is provided between the electrode contact member and the electrode.
13. Electronic muscle stimulation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the electrode contact member has illumination means.
14. Electronic muscle stimulation apparatus according to claim 1 2 or 13, wherein the backing element is formed of translucent material.
1 5. Electronic muscle stimulation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 2 to 14, wherein the backing element has a concave surface in contact with the electrode, the concave surface having a radius of curvature from 75mm to 95mm.
16. Electronic muscle stimulation apparatus as claimed in claim 12 tol 5, wherein said electrode has a contact stud for connection with a corresponding connector provided on the electrode contact member.
1 7. Electrode muscle stimulation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 2 to 16, wherein the backing element has a shore hardness in the range of 10 to 30.
18. Electrode apparatus for use with an electronic muscle stimulation device; said apparatus comprising:-an electrode for providing muscle stimulation; and illumination means for providing illumination at the electrode.
19. Electrode apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an electrode contact having for a central electrical coupling for connecting to an electrode, and a plurality of LEDs distributed around said electrical coupling.
20. Electrode apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of LEDs are spaced circumferentially around said electrical coupling.
21. Electrode apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, wherein electrode contact has an outer annular side wall, said side wall having an annular retention ring for promoting retention of the electrode contact within the aperture of a backing element used therewith.
22. A backing element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
23. Electronic muscle stimulation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
24. [lectrode apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.