Devices and systems for stimulation of tissue

摘要

NMES systems and methods for stimulating muscle tissue, and in some embodiments deep muscle tissue. The impedance near the surface of the skin is controllably increased to increase the percentage of energy delivered to a subject that stimulates muscle tissue.

主权项

1. A method of stimulating muscle, comprising:
providing a muscle stimulation pad, the muscle stimulation pad comprising a substrate, a plurality of muscle stimulating electrodes positioned in a predetermined orientation with respect to the substrate, and a thermal region that has a reduced barrier to thermal conductivity relative to other areas in the muscle stimulation pad, positioning the muscle stimulation pad on a patient such that the plurality of muscle stimulating electrodes are disposed proximate a muscle to be stimulated; positioning a thermal component relative to the thermal region to allow for a preferential thermal change due to the thermal component in tissue proximate to the thermal region; and activating a muscle stimulation control unit that is in communication with the muscle stimulation pad to deliver stimulating energy to the plurality of electrodes to stimulate the contraction of muscle tissue.