Automated adaptive muscle stimulation method and apparatus

Abstract

An automated adaptive muscle stimulation system and method are disclosed. The stimulation system includes at least one electrode assembly adapted to deliver a muscle stimulation signal to the tissue of a user, a sensor system adapted to detect a muscle response, and an electrical stimulation device operably coupled to the at least on electrode assembly and the sensor system, the electrical stimulation device including a control system operable to automatically diagnose at least one characteristic of a muscle from the detected muscle response and adjust at least one parameter of the muscle stimulation signal in response thereto to deliver an adjusted muscle stimulation signal. A dual mode muscle stimulation system adapted to accept first and second data sets and provide first and second levels of treatment data is also disclosed.

1 . An automated adaptive muscle stimulation system comprising:
 at least one electrode assembly adapted to deliver a muscle stimulation signal to the tissue of a user;   a sensor system adapted to detect a muscle response; and   an electrical stimulation device operably coupled to the at least one electrode assembly and the sensor system, the electrical stimulation device including a control system operable to automatically diagnose at least one characteristic of a muscle from the detected muscle response and adjust at least one parameter of the muscle stimulation signal in response thereto to deliver an adjusted muscle stimulation signal.   
     
     
         2 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter of the muscle stimulation signal includes a stimulation energy, a pulse width, a frequency, a signal duration, or a stimulation signal current. 
     
     
         3 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the muscle includes a muscle fatigue level. 
     
     
         4 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the muscle includes a muscle chronaxia. 
     
     
         5 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the muscle includes a user physiological characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the detected muscle response comprises a plurality of reaction pulses, and wherein the control system is operable to calculate a coefficient of correlation of the plurality of reaction pulses. 
     
     
         7 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is adapted to store at least one preprogrammed electrostimulation program, and wherein the muscle stimulation signal and the adjusted muscle stimulation signal are a subset of a preprogrammed electrostimulation program. 
     
     
         8 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 7 , wherein the preprogrammed electrostimulation program is selected from a program group consisting of a muscle fitness electrostimulation program, a muscle aesthetic electrostimulation program, a sport training electrostimulation program, a pain management electrostimulation program, a muscle rehabilitation electrostimulation program, and a vascular electrostimulation program. 
     
     
         9 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is operable to automatically initiate a muscle pretest to determine a muscle chronaxia and adjust at least one parameter of the muscle stimulation signal in response thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The automated adaptive muscle stimulation system of  claim 9 , wherein the electrical stimulation device is operable to provide feedback in response to the determined muscle chronaxia. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using an automated adaptive muscle stimulation system, the method comprising the steps of:
 delivering at least one muscle stimulation signal to a target tissue of a user;   detecting a muscle response;   automatically diagnosing at least one characteristic of the target tissue from the detected muscle response;   adjusting at least one parameter of the muscle stimulation signal in response thereto; and   delivering at least one adjusted muscle stimulation signal to a target tissue of a user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 selecting a muscle stimulation treatment program, wherein the muscle stimulation signal and the adjusted muscle stimulation signal are a subset of the selected muscle stimulation treatment program.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting a muscle response further comprises detecting a plurality of reaction pulses, and wherein the step of automatically diagnosing at least one characteristic of the target tissue from the detected muscle response further comprises calculating a coefficient of correlation of the plurality of reaction pulses. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring an excitability of the target tissue of the user before delivering a muscle stimulation signal; and   automatically adjusting at least one parameter of the muscle stimulation system according to the measured excitability.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 defining an available energy scale;   selecting a desired stimulation energy level from the available energy scale; and   varying an intensity of the muscle stimulation signal according to the desired stimulation energy level.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 selecting a desired energy level as a percentage of a maximum available energy output of the stimulation system; and   varying at least one parameter of the muscle stimulation signal according to the desired energy level.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 providing at least one prompt to induce a voluntary muscle contraction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a timing of the prompt is defined by a selected muscle stimulation treatment program. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the prompt comprises an auditory signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 delivering at least one test pulse to the target tissue of the user; and   detecting an onset of a twitch response.