Voice activated loco motor device and method of use for spinal cord injuries

Patent 5843142 Issued on December 1, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 27, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Programmable functional electrical stimulation system
Patent #: 4622973
Issued on: 11/18/1986
Inventor: Agarwala

Stimulation of cauda-equina spinal nerves
Patent #: 4633889
Issued on: 01/06/1987
Inventor: Talalla , et al.

Non-invasive multiprogrammable tissue stimulator and method
Patent #: 4793353
Issued on: 12/27/1988
Inventor: Borkan

Multi-electrode neurological stimulation apparatus
Patent #: 4934368
Issued on: 06/19/1990
Inventor: Lynch

Method of and device for inducing locomotion by electrical stimulation of the spinal cord
Patent #: 5002053
Issued on: 03/26/1991
Inventor: Garcia-Rill, et al.

Controlled-brake orthosis Patent #: 5476441
Issued on: 12/19/1995
Inventor: Durfee, et al.

Inventor

Sultan, Hashem

Application

No. 824917 filed on 03/27/1997

US Classes:

607/49, For walking assistance607/48Directly or indirectly stimulating motor muscles

Examiners

Primary: Kamm, William E.
Assistant: Schaetzle, Kennedy J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Wood, Herron & Evans LLP

International Class

A61N 001/08

Abstract

A method and device which will enable patients with spinal cord injury to perform a variety of complex motor functions independently ( walking, sitting up or down, standing up, climbing stairs, pedaling a tricycle, exercises, etc..) by an implantable programmable device 1 which provide a coordinated stimulation to the nerve roots of the cauda equina 44. The patient will be able to activate the required function by verbally commanding the device. The command is recognized by a pre tracheal sensor 4 which relays voice vibration to the main device either wirelessly 5 or via a wire connecting the sensor to the device under the skin 7. An external programmer 24 communicates with the main device by a transmit receive circuit 26 is also provided to change the parameters of already installed data, if needed.