| 20110288602 | Method and Device for Enhanced Blood Flow - A non-invasive method and device for promoting a localized change in a flow of blood through a blood vessel in a limb segment of a body by a series of electrically stimulated contractions of muscle tissue in the limb segment, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a device including: (i) first, second and third electrodes, each adapted to operatively contact the limb segment; (ii) a signal generator, operatively connected to the electrodes, adapted to produce a series of electrical impulses to the limb segment via the electrodes, and (iii) a control unit adapted to control the signal generator to produce the series of electrical impulses; (b) positioning the electrodes on the limb segment, wherein the first electrode is positioned on a lower end of the lower leg, the second electrode is positioned on the lower leg, and the third electrode is positioned on an upper end of the lower leg, whereby the first and third electrodes are disposed on opposite ends of the lower leg, and the second electrode and one of the first and third electrodes are disposed on a same end of the lower leg; (c) effecting a sequence of muscular contractions of the lower leg, by operations including: (i) applying a first electrical impulse between the electrodes on the same end of the lower leg to induce a first muscular contraction of a first portion of the tissue; and (ii) applying at least a second electrical impulse between the first and third electrodes to induce a longitudinal muscular contraction of a second portion of the muscular tissue; and (d) repeating operations (i) and (ii), to repeatedly induce the contractions, to effect the increased flow of blood. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110082517 | Device and Method for Activating the Natural Venous Muscle Pump using Electrical Stimulation Compounded by External Pressure - A device and method for promoting a localized increase in a flow of blood through veins in a conical limb segment of a user, the device including: (a) a compression unit, adapted to at least partially envelope the conical limb segment, and (b) an electrical stimulation unit including: (i) a plurality of electrodes, each adapted to operatively contact the limb segment; (ii) a signal generator, operatively connected to at least one of the electrodes, and adapted to electrically connect to a power supply, whereby, when the electrodes are disposed on the limb segment, the signal generator provides a series of electrical impulses to the limb segment via the electrodes, to contract at least one muscle in the limb segment in at least one region of contraction, to effect the localized increase in the flow of blood, and (iii) a control unit, associated with the signal generator, and configured to control the signal generator to produce the series of electrical stimulation impulses, the electrodes physically attached to the compression unit and at least partially disposed thereunder, the compression unit having an inside face adapted to deliver, to a surface of the limb segment, a constant, superatmospheric pressure of at least 5 mmHg. | 04-07-2011 |
