Apparatus for electro-stimulation of flexing body portions

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is a stimulation apparatus for treatment of flexing portions of the human body by electrical simulation.
The apparatus has positioning means for firmly holding the flexing portion of the human body.
There are two or more stimulation output contacts mounted in the positioning means in predetermined locations relative to each other and the area to be treated with stimulation.
A stimulator is electrically connected to the output contacts for introducing electrical stimulation at the output contacts.
A primary object of this invention is to provide an easy-to-use apparatus to help patients relieve pain in their hands (or other flexing body portions) caused by conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
In the hand/wrist version of the present invention, a patient simply puts on a wrist brace positioning means with internal stimulation output contacts and electrodes, connects one connector and turns on the stimulator to begin the treatment.
The patient doesn't have to place separate skin electrodes on his/her skin and then connect multiple wires from the stimulator to the skin electrodes.
Also, with the present invention, the patient can more easily continue to use his/her hands and move around while receiving the therapy.
The stimulation apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted to provide an easy-to-use wrist brace stimulator for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Once the patient puts on the wrist brace, the skin electrodes are in the predefined, correct positions.
Then, once the patient turns on the stimulator, his/her wrist will receive electrical stimulation.
Also, while the therapy is being received, the patient can enjoy relatively unimpeded use of his/her hands with little risk of skin electrodes or wires connecting to them becoming loose.
Furthermore, the patient can move around freely while receiving the electrical stimulation treatment, because the entire invention is designed to be portable with minimal exposed wires.