Apparatus and method for providing electrical stimulation to a subject

Abstract

An apparatus for the electrical stimulation of a subject is provided, the apparatus comprising a contact member having a contact surface for contacting the plantar surface of a foot of the subject; and means for providing an electrical stimulation cycle to the foot of the subject comprising supplying an electrical current to the contact surface for the electrical stimulation of the plantar muscles of the foot of the subject; wherein the contact surface is moveable so as to allow the angle of the joints of the foot and ankle of the subject to change during the electrical stimulation cycle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the electrical stimulation of a subject, the apparatus comprising: a first contact member having a first contact surface for contacting the plantar surface of a first foot of the subject and a second contact member having a second contact surface for contacting the plantar surface of a second foot of the subject; and means for providing an electrical stimulation cycle to the foot of the subject comprising supplying an electrical current to the first and second contact surface for the electrical stimulation of the plantar muscles of the foot of the subject when the subject places the first foot on the first contact surface and the second foot on the second contact surface, wherein the first contact surface is of opposite polarity to the second contact surface and the electrical current flows through the first foot to the second foot of the subject; wherein the first and second contact surfaces are moveable so as to allow the angle of the joints of the feet and ankles of the subject to change during the electrical stimulation cycle; and wherein the apparatus further comprises a pivot member, each of the first and second contact surfaces being integral with the pivot member and pivotable about the pivot member at a position between opposing ends or opposing sides of the first and second contact surfaces.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second contact surfaces are elongate, having a proximal end and a distal end.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second contact surfaces can accommodate the major portion of the plantar surface of a respective one of the first and second feet of the subject.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the first and second contact surfaces are contoured to accommodate the contours of a respective one of the first and second feet of the subject.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising locking means operable to releasbly lock the first and second contact surfaces to prevent movement thereof during use.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pivot member is moveable between a first position, in which each of the first and second contact surfaces are moveable and a second position in which movement of each of the first and second contact surfaces are prevented.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pivot member is a projection extending from a base member of the apparatus, the pivot member being moveable between a first position, in which the apparatus is pivotable about the pivot member relative to a surface on which the apparatus is standing, and a second position in which the apparatus is not pivotable about the pivot member.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the first position the pivot member is configured to lie below the mid point of the longitudinal arch of each of the first and second feet of the user.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein in the second position, the pivot member lies in front of the mid point of the longitudinal arch of each of the first and second feet of the user.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises a pivot assembly moveably mounted to the apparatus so as to be moveable between the first and second positions, the pivot assembly comprising the pivot member.

Description

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 along the line II-II, with the apparatus resting on a surface as in normal use;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view of the base of the apparatus along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4a is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a first operating position;

(6) FIG. 4b is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a second operating position; and

(7) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a system for generating electrical pulses for use in the apparatus of the present invention.

(8) Turning to FIG. 1, there is shown, in plan view, an apparatus for the electrical stimulation of the plantar surface of a foot of a subject. The apparatus is generally indicated as 2. The apparatus 2 is shown in side view in FIG. 2 resting on a surface 4, as it would be positioned in normal use by a subject.

(9) The apparatus 2 comprises a generally circular housing 6. The housing 6 is provided at an edge portion with a carrying handle 8. The upper surface 10 of the housing is shown in FIG. 1. In this respect, the terms upper and lower are references to the orientation of the surfaces and components when in the position of normal use as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the upper surface 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is that surface presented to the subject when the apparatus is set on a surface for use.

(10) The housing 6 contains a means for providing electrical stimulation to the plantar surface of the foot of the subject. The system includes a control panel 12. The control panel 12 is disposed centrally in the upper surface 10 of the housing 6, with controls allowing the subject to activate and adjust parameters of the electrical stimulation cycle to be applied to their foot.

(11) The housing 6 is provided with first and second contact members 14a, 14b having respective contact surfaces 16a, 16b. The contact member 14a, 14b are rigid. The contact members 14a, 14b are arranged such that the contact surfaces 16a, 16b are disposed symmetrically on opposing sides of the central control panel 12. Each contact surface 16a, 16b is generally elongate and is shaped to resemble the general outline of a foot. The contact surfaces 16a, 16b are of a size to accommodate the entire plantar surface of a foot of the subject. The contact surfaces 16a, 16b are shaped to correspond to the left and right feet of the subject, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1.

(12) Each contact surface 16a, 16b is provided with a plurality of arcuate ridges 18 thereon. Alternatively, the contact surfaces 16a, 16b may be smooth or substantially smooth.

(13) In use, the means for providing electrical stimulation to the feet of the subject provides an electric current to the contact surfaces 16a, 16b for conducting to the plantar surface of the corresponding foot of the subject.

(14) The apparatus 2 can be considered to have a central axis A, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In normal use, this central axis A extends away from the subject, with the subject placing their feet on either side of the central axis A.

(15) Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 6 has a base 20 providing the housing with a lower surface 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower surface 22 faces the surface on which the apparatus is set, when in normal use. The housing 6 is provided with four generally circular feet 24 extending from the base 20 and the lower surface 22. The feet 24 are arranged in a symmetrical pattern about the central axis A.

(16) The base 20 is further provided with a rocker assembly, generally indicated as 26. The rocker assembly 26 comprises an axle assembly 28 pivotably mounted to the base 20 by a mount 30. An axle (not visible in the figures) extends within the axle assembly 28 across the base 20 substantially perpendicular to the central axis A. A wheel 32 is mounted to the axle at each end of the axle assembly 28. The wheels 32 may be mounted to the axle assembly, so as to rotate. More preferably, the wheels 32 are fixed and not rotatable relative to the axle assembly.

(17) The base 20 is provided with a recess 34 in the lower surface 22, with the rocker assembly 26 being accommodated within the recess 34 and extendable from the recess by movement about the mount 30.

(18) The rocker assembly 26 is arranged such that, with the wheels 32 positioned as shown in the figures, the housing 6, together with the contact surfaces 16a, 16b, pivots about the wheels 32, as indicated by the arrows B in FIG. 2. The axle assembly 28 is arranged to position the axis of rotation extending between the wheels 32 to be at the mid-point between the proximal and distal ends of the contact surfaces 16a, 16b. With the feet of the subject properly positioned on the contact surfaces 16a, 16b, this places the axis of movement of the contact surfaces at the centre of the longitudinal arch of each foot. This in turn allows the apparatus 2, and hence the contact surfaces 16a, 16b, to rock forwards and backwards and permit the natural movement of the feet and ankles of the subject.

(19) In use, the apparatus has two operating positions, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. In normal use, the rocker assembly 26 is positioned within the recess, as shown in FIG. 2 and described in detail above. The apparatus 2 is placed on a surface 4, as shown in FIG. 4a. The subject places their feet on the respective contact member 14a, 14b, with the plantar surfaces firmly in contact with the contact surfaces 16a, 16b. Electrical stimulation of the feet is activated using the control panel and a cycle of electrical current is applied to the plantar surfaces of the subject's feet through the contact surfaces. Depending upon the parameters of the current cycle, involuntary movement of the feet and legs may be induced by the electrical stimulation. Alternatively, or in addition, the subject may move their feet and legs voluntarily during the stimulation cycle. Such movement is accommodated by the housing 6 rocking about the axis of the wheels 32 as indicated by arrows B in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4a. In particular, the forwards and backwards rocking motion allows the natural movement of the joints in the feet and ankles of the subject to take place unimpeded.

(20) The user may not require the rocking action of the apparatus during the stimulation cycle, for example as a result of infirmity or disability, the rocking action may be prevented as shown in FIG. 4b. In particular, the axle assembly 26 is pivoted about the mount on the base, as indicated by arrow D in FIG. 4b. This moves the wheels 32 away from below the mid-point of the contact surfaces 16a, 16b and forwards from the user, that is to the left as viewed in FIG. 4b. In addition, the apparatus 2 is raised at an angle to present the contact surfaces 16a, 16b to the user, as shown in FIG. 4b. With the axle assembly 26 in the extended position shown in FIG. 4b, and with the feet of the user in the normal position on the contact surfaces 16a, 16b, the apparatus is held in a stable position on the surface and does not rock. Electrical stimulation of the feet of the user proceeds as described above and is unchanged.

(21) The rocking action may be restored simply by moving the axle assembly 26 into the retracted position, shown in FIG. 4a.

(22) Referring to FIG. 5, there is a shown a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a system for generating electrical pulses for the stimulation of the feet of a subject. The system, generally indicated as 102, is suitable for use in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 4.

(23) The system 102 comprises a power supply unit 104, for example connectable to an electrical power supply, such as a domestic electrical supply. The power supply unit 104 outputs an electrical current, the voltage of which is adjusted, as required by a control unit 106, under the action of a processor 108. The adjusted voltage is stepped up by a transformer 110, before being fed to a pulse control unit 112, also operated by the processor 108. The pulse control unit generates a pulsed electrical signal having the desired pulse shape and duration, under the action of the processor. The output of the pulse control unit 112 is connected to the first and second contact members 14a, 14b of the apparatus of FIG. 1. A control panel 114 provides a user interface for controlling the processor 108.

(24) In use, by placing their feet on the contact surfaces of the contact members 14a, 14b, the user completes an electrical circuit, allowing the pulsed electrical signal to travel from one foot to the other and stimulate muscle contraction in the feet and legs of the user. As described above, the rocking action of the apparatus allows the feet and legs of the user to move, in particular about the joints in the feet and ankles, as required under the action of the electrical stimulation of the muscles.