U.S. patent number RE41,463 [Application Number 11/257,482] was granted by the patent office on 2010-07-27 for apparatus for stimulating living tissue.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jocelyn Boutos. Invention is credited to David R. Boutos.
United States Patent |
RE41,463 |
Boutos |
July 27, 2010 |
Apparatus for stimulating living tissue
Abstract
Electrodes for stimulating living tissue such as penile,
scrotal, anal, vaginal and clitoral tissue are shown. The
electrodes are formed from elastomeric material. Electrical
stimulation to such areas is intended to control incontinence, to
induce penile erection, or to induce excitation and orgasm. Three
embodiments of a tube electrode formed from elastomeric material,
have a nonconductive base, and a conductive tube weaving through
holes in the base. Two have single adjustable loops and are for use
around penile or scrotal tissue, and against anal tissue. The third
comprises two loops, one to wrap each testicle against scrotal
tissue.
Inventors: |
Boutos; David R. (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Assignee: |
Boutos; Jocelyn (Las Vegas,
NV)
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Family
ID: |
25127178 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/257,482 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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08568875 |
Dec 7, 1995 |
5697966 |
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08369172 |
Nov 5, 1996 |
5571118 |
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Reissue of: |
08782786 |
Jan 13, 1997 |
05782902 |
Jul 21, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
607/143; 600/38;
607/138 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61N
1/0524 (20130101); A61N 1/0472 (20130101); A61N
1/36007 (20130101); A61N 1/0456 (20130101); A61N
1/0408 (20130101); A61N 1/0512 (20130101); A61N
1/0452 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61N
1/05 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;600/38-41,382,384,386
;607/118,115,143,149,138 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Plastics One, Electrode 508/528 Digital Ring part drawing, drawn
Oct. 25, 1993, Roanoke, VA. cited by other .
Cadwell, Cadwell Safe Electrodes and Accessories, date unknown,
Kennewick, WA. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Getzow; Scott M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Morishita; Robert Ryan Morishita
Law Firm
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of "Apparatus for
Stimulating Living Tissue" invented by David Boutos, Ser. No.
08/568,875, filed Dec. 7, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,966 and
"Apparatus for Stimulating Penile, Scrotal, Anal, Vaginal and
Clitoral Tissue" invented by David Boutos, Ser. No. 08/369,172,
filed Jan. 5, 1995, issued Nov. 5, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,118.
Claims
Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise
terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and
practice the same, the invention claimed is:
1. An electrode apparatus comprising: a base having at least first
and second sides and first and second holes running from said first
side to said second side; a tube electrode disposed through said
base wherein: a first section of said tube electrode extends from
the first side of said base .[.plate.]. from said first hole; a
second section of said tube electrode extends from the second side
of said base .[.plate.]. from said first hole and to said
.Iadd.second side of said base to said .Iaddend.second hole forming
a loop; and a third section of said tube electrode extends from the
first side of said base .[.plate.]. from said second hole.
2. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube electrode
is conductive of electrical current.
3. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base is
substantially non-conductive of electrical current.
4. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein first section of said
tube electrode is fixed to said base, and the length of said loop
and said third section of said tube electrode are inversely
adjustable relative said base.
5. The electrode apparatus of claim 4 wherein said third section of
said tube electrode carries an O-ring; wherein said O-ring can be
adjusted against said base thereby preventing the lengthening of
said loop.
6. The electrode apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a
substantially non-conductive cover over said first section of said
tube electrode.
7. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein the length of said
first and said third section of said tube electrode are inversely
adjustable in length relative said base, and the length of said
loop and said first and third sections of said tube electrode is
inversely adjustable relative said base.
8. The electrode apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first and third
sections of said tube electrode each carry an O-ring; wherein said
O-rings can be adjusted against said base thereby preventing the
lengthening of said loop.
9. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base is a
plate.
10. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base is a block
of material forming a wedge.
11. The electrode apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an
electrical contact that plugs directly into one end of said
tube.
12. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said loop is a first loop and
said base further comprises a third hole and said first section of
said tube electrode connects with said base into said third hole;
wherein said first section of said tube electrode forms a second
loop on the first side of said base.
13. The electrode of claim 12 wherein said third hole is in an end
of said base and said first section of said tube electrode connects
with said base within said third hole.
14. The electrode of claim 12 wherein the length of said first loop
and said third section of said tube electrode are inversely
adjustable relative said base.
15. The electrode apparatus of claim 14 wherein said third section
of said tube electrode carries an O-ring; wherein said O-ring can
be adjusted against said base thereby preventing the lengthening of
said first loop.
16. The electrode apparatus of claim 15 wherein the length of said
first loop and said second loop are inversely adjustable relative
said base.
17. An electrode apparatus comprising: a base having at least first
and second sides and first and second holes running from said first
side to said second side; a tube electrode disposed through said
base wherein: a first section of said tube electrode is disposed
within said base .[.plate.]. in said first hole; a second section
of said tube electrode extends from the second side of said base
.[.plate.]. from said first hole and to said .Iadd.second side of
said base to said .Iaddend.second hole forming a loop; and a third
section of said tube electrode extends from the first side of said
base .[.plate.]. from said second hole.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for applying electrical energy
to living tissue.
More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for
electrically stimulating penile, scrotal, and vaginal and clitoral
tissue.
In a further and more specific aspects, the invention relates to
electrically stimulating penile, scrotal, vaginal and clitoral
tissue for the purposes of treating incontinence in men and women,
and for inducing penile erection, male and female orgasm.
2. Prior Art
It is widely known that the application of electrical stimulation
to certain neuromuscular areas in or near the genitalia can be used
to treat incontinence in both men and women. Also known is that the
application of electrical stimulation to penile tissue can cause
erection where impotence may exist due to physiological or
psychological conditions. Additionally it is known the application
of electrical stimulation to penile, vaginal, clitoral, anal, or
prostate tissue can induce orgasm, even where the subject has
suffered vascular degenerative neural neuropathy. Finally it is
known that diabetes and many other medical disorders can cause
penile impotence.
The art is replete with various apparatus used to apply electrical
stimulation to the subject areas. Rigid rings capable of
transmitting low levels of electricity to the skin and muscles are
typically applied about the penis and/or the scrotum. Insertable
rolled or plug-type electrodes, made to be rolled to size, or sized
in a variety of sizes to fit the user's anatomy, are known for the
purpose of applying low levels of electricity to the skin and
muscles inside and surrounding the vagina and the anus.
Urinary incontinence is a common problem that may require long term
retraining of self-control, particularly after a stroke, or
permanent use of an external control device. The prior art does not
teach of apparatus that is designed to be worn while the user,
fully dressed, moves about his or her everyday course of
events.
Rigid rings are useable for males where the application of
electrical current to only a portion of penile tissue is sufficient
to induce urethral control or erection. This is because sufficient
expansion room is required within the ring to accommodate penile
engorgement. Rigid rings are particularly problematic where penile
atrophy has occurred, and the desired goal is erection or orgasm.
The tremendously varying size of the penile tissue from rest to
engorgement may cause a need to use a large diameter ring on a
small diameter penis, or to change rings during a treatment.
For the female, a discrete unit, usable in a variety of ways, is
desirable to control incontinence, or to stimulate and to induce
orgasm. Such a unit should be particularly designed to be worn
under a user's clothing, and operative while the female was engaged
in other normal everyday activity.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing
and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
improvements in electrical stimulation apparatus for both men and
women.
Another object of the invention is the provision of improvements
especially adapted for use in connection with apparatus for
controlling and treating incontinence in men and women.
And another object of the invention is to provide improved means
for the application of electrical stimulation to the vagina.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide means for the
application of electrical stimulation to the penile and scrotal
tissue.
Yet still another object of the invention is the provision of
improved means for the application of electrical stimulation to the
penile and scrotal tissue that can expand with penile erection.
A further object of the instant invention is to provide
improvements in the connectivity of electrical stimulation
apparatus.
And a further object of the invention is the provision of a male
and female electrical stimulation apparatus that can be worn
comfortably and discretely under a user's clothing.
Yet a further object of this invention is to provide male
electrical stimulation apparatus that can induce erection and
orgasm, and female electrical stimulation apparatus that can induce
orgasm.
And yet an object of the invention is the provision of means and
improvements according to the foregoing which will materially
reduce the cost of male and female electrical stimulation
apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention in
accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a first
tube electrode to which a source of electricity may be attached.
The tube electrode is mounted in a holding plate with two holes. A
first end of the tube electrode is fixed to the holding plate in
one hole, and held in position at the second hole of the holding
plate by an O-ring, allowing the tube electrode to be sized about
an object.
The tube electrode is fabricated from elastomeric material. It may
be wrapped about penile or scrotal tissue, or inserted into the
vagina and positioned therein to control incontinence, or so the
application of electricity may induce excitation and orgasm.
A second tube electrode like the first may be inserted anally
instead thereby stimulating that tissue and the nearby prostate for
assisting in controlling incontinence, or for excitation. This
second tube electrode uses a wedge instead of a holding plate,
thereby preventing the device from traveling too far into the anal
cavity.
A third electrode in the form of a tube is for direct use on
scrotal tissue and comprises another alternate embodiment of the
invention. The tube is also formed from elastomeric material, and
has a second tube it mounts through to form a figure-8 shape
suitable to wrap around the testicles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages
of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those
skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a tube electrode in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tube electrode shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 shows the contact of the tube electrode being removed;
FIG. 4 shows the tube electrode being cut to size;
FIG. 5 shows the contact of the tube electrode being replaced;
FIG. 6 shows the tube electrode in use in combination with another
electrode;
FIG. 7 is a view of a alternate tube electrode designed for anal
use;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third tube electrode designed for
wrapping around each testicle;
FIG. 9 shows the third tube electrode wrapping around each
testicle; and
FIG. 10 shows the alternate tube electrode of FIG. 7 in use in
combination with the third tube electrode of FIG. 8.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters
indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views,
attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 and 2 where tube electrode
700 is shown. Tube electrode 700 is fabricated from elastomeric
material such as silicon, viton, and neoprene, and such material is
substantially non-conductive of electricity.
Tube electrode 700 has base plate 701, which has first side 702 and
second side 704. Extending therethrough base plate 701 is first
hole 705 and second hole 706.
Tube 707 is disposed through said base by inserting each of its two
ends in first and second holes 705 and 706. When tube 707 is so
disposed, it comprises a first tube section 709 extending through
first hole 705 from the first side of base plate 701, a second tube
section .[.710.]. extending from second side 704 at hole 705 to
second hole 706 and forming a loop (also referred to herein as loop
710), and a third tube section 711 extending through second hole
706 from the first side of base plate 701.
Tube 707 is conductive of electricity. It is made conductive by
embedding carbon particles in the silicon, viton, or neoprene
during fabrication of tube 707.
FIG. 2 shows tube electrode 700 specifically showing second side
704. In this view, third tube section 711 is bent downwardly so it
shows in FIG. 2.
By virtue of the configuration of tube 707 and base plate 701, the
length of loop 710 and third tube section 711 are inversely
adjustable. That is the longer one makes third tube section 711 by
pulling tube 707 through base plate 701 in the direction of second
side 704 to first side 702, the shorter one makes loop 710. Vice
versa, the longer one makes loop 710 by pulling tube 707 through
base plate 701 in the direction of first side 702 to second side
704, the shorter one makes third tube section 711.
In one embodiment of tube electrode 700 (shown), first tube section
709 is fixed to base plate 701 with silicon adhesive or other
method, thereby allowing loop 710 to be lengthened or shortened
against base plate 701 only by pulling or pushing third tube
section 711 against base plate 701. In this embodiment, first tube
section 709 may be covered with a substantially non-conductive
cover 715 which allows tube electrode 700 to be manipulated even
when electrified.
In another embodiment (not shown) first tube section 709 has length
and is not fixed to base plate 701 allowing loop 710 to be
lengthened or shortened against base plate 701 by either pulling or
pushing first tube section 709 against base plate 701, or pulling
or pushing third tube section 711 against base plate 701, or by
pulling or pushing both first and tube sections 709 and 711 against
base plate 701.
As shown, third tube section 711 carries O-ring 712. O-ring 712 may
be slid along the length of third tube section 711 against base
plate 701 thereby preventing loop 710 from increasing in length. In
the not-shown embodiment, first tube section 709 may also carry an
O-ring to prevent loop 710 from increasing in length by virtue of
the shortening of first tube section 709.
Tube 707 also has contact 714 attached at one end. As shown,
contact 714 is embedded into tube 707 at third section 711. Tube
707 will conduct electricity when it is connected to a source of
electricity, typically a controller allowing for adjustment of
current (not shown). The controller will typically include a jack,
and a wire connected to the jack. The wire will typically terminate
with a female snap connector. Such female snap connector is
connected to snap connector 716, shown in FIG. 6.
Tube electrode 700 may be kept in its original
adjustable-to-many-sizes form, or it may be cut to size for a user.
Turning to FIGS. 3-5, a method for cutting tube electrode 700 is
shown. First, contact 714 is removed from third section 711. Then
third section 711 is cut using a scissors or other cutting device
(as shown), and contact 714 is replaced.
FIG. 6 shows tube electrode 700 applied to the scrotal tissue,
while ring electrode 100 is applied to penile tissue. Tube
electrode 700 could be applied to penile tissue as well, and is
particularly effective at causing erection or orgasm when in
position on the penis, such as when loop around the base of the
penis, or at the back of the head of the penis.
Running directly to and connected to snap connector 716 is
conductive line 718. Line 718 has plug connector 719 which connects
electrodes 100 and 700 to an electrical supply box (not shown here,
but shown in parent case application Ser. No. 08/369,172).
Shown in FIG. 7 is tube electrode 750. Tube electrode 750 has wedge
752 as its base, and carries tube 758 therein. The usual use of
tube electrode 750 is for stimulation of the anal tissue. Tube 758
is inserted anally while wedge 752 prevents tube electrode 750 from
creeping further into the anal cavity.
Wedge 752 has first side 753 and second side 755, and holes 754 and
756 running from first side 753 to second side 755. Holes 754 and
756 of wedge 752 carry tube 758. As tube 707 has three sections,
tube 758 has first section 759, which extends through hole 754 (and
may either be carried in entirety within hole 754 or extend beyond
wedge 752 and second side 755), second section or loop 760
extending between holes 754 and 756 on first side 753, and third
section 761 which extends through hole 756 beyond wedge 752 and
second side 755.
Pulling third section 761 in the direction of first side 753 to
second side 755 causes third section 761 to grow in length, with a
corresponding shortening in length of loop 760, while pushing third
section 761 into wedge 752 causes a corresponding increase in
length of loop 760. Loop 760 and third section 759 therefore have
an inverse "change in length" relationship. Loop 760 should be
adjustable to be longer than is comfortable while in the anal
cavity with wedge 752 against the cheeks of the buttocks.
Either first section 759 or third section 761 will carry an
electrical contact like electrical contact 714. First section 759
may be fixed to wedge 752 by adhesive so that loop 760 may be
adjusted by manipulating third section 761 further out of or in to
wedge 752.
Tube electrode 780 is shown in FIG. 8. Although very similar to the
other embodiments shown, tube electrode 780 has two loops, first
loop 788 and second loop 789 each of which can be wrapped around
and tightened down on scrotal tissue around each of the testicles
(as shown in FIG. 9).
Electrode 780 has base 781 carries tube 782. Base 781 has first
side 784 and second side 785, and holes 783 and 787 running through
base 781 from first side 784 to second side 785.
Base 781 also has hole 786 in one end. In this embodiment as shown,
tube 782 has a first section 788 which has an end buried within
hole 786. In an alternate embodiment (not shown) hole 786 would be
through base 781, and first section 788 could travel through base
781 from second side 785 to first side 784.
Like with tube electrode 700, tube electrode 780 has third section
790 extending through 783 on second side 785, and loop 789 (like
loop 710) formed on first side 784. Also like tube electrodes 700
and 750, third section 790 is contiguous with second section or
loop 789 thereby having an inverse "change in length" relationship,
relative to base 781. Electrical contact 791 may be connected to an
electrical supply device via a line with connectors like that shown
in FIG. 6.
Yet in this embodiment, loop 789 is first loop 789 because first
section 788 also forms second loop 788. Since second loop 788 is
contiguous with first loop 789, second loop 788 may be adjusted to
size (thereby shortening or lengthening first loop 789), and then
third section 790 may be adjusted to adjust the size (or length) of
first loop 789. This way as shown in FIG. 9, tube electrode 780 may
be wrapped around the testicles.
FIG. 9 shows base 781 positioned against scrotal tissue between the
testicles, while first loop 789 is wrapped around and tightened
down against the testicle on the left, and second loop 788 is
wrapped around and tightened down against the testicle on the
right. Contact 791 remains ready for connection to an electrical
supply (not shown).
Tubular electrode 780 is shown in use with tubular electrode 750 in
FIG. 10. In this view, electrode 780 is wrapped around each of the
testicles in the manner before proscribed, while tube electrode 750
is placed anally. When connected to an electrical supply this mode
of use provides extremely effective control of incontinence because
the application of current to both these areas provides significant
contraction of the muscles required to control male urination.
Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen
for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in
the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do
not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to
be included within the scope thereof which is assessed only by a
fair interpretation of the following claims.
* * * * *