The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 01, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1999
Douglas A. Staunton, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Richard F. Huyser, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Harry A. Wellons, III, Portage, MI (US);
Mark A. Wasserman, Delton, MI (US);
Jerry A. Culp, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Patrick J. Del Medico, Portage, MI (US);
Donald W. Malackowski, Schoolcraft, MI (US);
Stryker Instruments, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Abstract
A neuro-muscular electrical stimulation system provides a series of electrical pulses to instigate muscle twitch to aid in preventing the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis. The duration and duty cycle of the electrical pulses provided to a patient's muscle tissue is controlled to instigate muscle twitch without causing tetanic muscle contractions. The system preferably includes a single electrode that is placed upon each calve of a patient. The electrical stimulator device includes a unique housing and circuit board arrangement that facilitates easy assembly without requiring any soldering connections between the circuit board, a power source and electrical leads that are utilized to provide signals to the electrodes that are placed on the patient. The circuit board preferably is made from a slightly resilient plastic material that is flexed from a disconnected position into an electrically connected position upon assembly of the stimulator device.