Nerve stimulation garment

Abstract

Apparatus for electrical stimulation includes a garment, including an elastic knitted fabric, which is shaped and sized to fit snugly over a part of a body of a human subject, and at least one electrode, which includes an electrically-conductive yarn interknitted with the elastic knitted fabric in a predefined location so as to make electrical contact with a skin surface of the human subject when the garment is worn on the body. Stimulation circuitry is configured to apply an alternating electrical current to the at least one electrode.

1 . Apparatus for electrical stimulation, comprising:
 a garment, comprising an elastic knitted fabric, which is shaped and sized to fit snugly over a part of a body of a human subject;   at least one electrode, comprising an electrically-conductive yarn interknitted with the elastic knitted fabric in a predefined location so as to make electrical contact with a skin surface of the human subject when the garment is worn on the body; and   stimulation circuitry, configured to apply an alternating electrical current to the at least one electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a sock or stocking, which is shaped and sized to fit over a foot of the human subject. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode located between a heel and a toe of the garment, and a second electrode located on an ankle of the garment. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the stimulation circuitry is configured to apply the electrical current with a frequency and amplitude selected to stimulate a tibial nerve in the foot of the human subject. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the stimulation circuitry is configured to output the electrical current as a bipolar square wave, and the amplitude of the square wave is between 10 and 150 mA. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive yarn comprises an elastomer with an electrically-conductive coating. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and comprising a connector, which is configured to mechanically connect the stimulation circuitry to the garment while electrically connecting the stimulation circuitry to the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , and comprising a wire running through the elastic knitted fabric from the connector to the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the connector comprises a pair of magnetic snaps. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic snaps comprise a magnetic stud, fixed to the garment in a first location, with a first magnetic polarity and a magnetic socket, fixed to the garment in a second location, adjacent to the first location, with a second magnetic polarity opposite to the first magnetic polarity. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the stimulation circuitry comprises a housing, which is mechanically connected to the garment by the connector, and an electrical power source contained in the housing. 
     
     
         12 . A garment, comprising:
 an elastic knitted fabric, which is shaped and sized as a sock or stocking to fit snugly over a foot of a human subject; and   at least one electrode, comprising an electrically-conductive yarn interknitted with the elastic knitted fabric in a predefined location so as to make electrical contact with a skin surface of the human subject when the garment is worn on the foot.   
     
     
         13 . The garment according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode located between a heel and a toe of the sock or stocking, and a second electrode located on an ankle of the sock or stocking. 
     
     
         14 . The garment according to  claim 12 , and comprising a connector, which is configured to mechanically connect an electronic module to the garment while electrically connecting the electronic module to the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         15 . A method for electrical stimulation, comprising:
 providing a garment, comprising an elastic knitted fabric, which is shaped and sized to fit snugly over a part of a body of a human subject, with at least one electrode, comprising an electrically-conductive yarn interknitted with the elastic knitted fabric in a predefined location so as to make electrical contact with a skin surface of the human subject when the garment is worn on the body; and   applying an alternating electrical current to the at least one electrode so as to stimulate a nerve in the body.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the garment comprises a sock or stocking, which is shaped and sized to fit over a foot of the human subject. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode located between a heel and a toe of the garment, and a second electrode located on an ankle of the garment, and
 wherein the alternating electrical current is applied with a frequency and amplitude selected to stimulate a tibial nerve in the foot of the human subject.