| Protective glove with electrical signal interrupt feature -> Monitor Keywords |
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Protective glove with electrical signal interrupt featureRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, Hand Or ArmProtective glove with electrical signal interrupt feature description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070118945, Protective glove with electrical signal interrupt feature. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention generally relates to treating joints, such as a human hand and wrist. [0002] The hand and wrist are affected by a number of diseases including several forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by the manner in which it involves the joints. The onset of the disease may be acute or insidious. Articular involvement is manifested clinically by pain, stiffness, loss of motion, deformity of joints, and the signs of inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis affects many joints, most commonly the hands and wrists. [0003] Osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis is a degenerative joint disease, which commonly affects both axial and peripheral diarthrodial joints in humans. The effects of this increase steadily with age, so it is more common in the elderly. Osteoarthritis causes progressive deterioration and loss of articular cartilage from the surfaces of joints, and reactive changes at joint margins and in the underlying bone. Symptoms that are treatable include joint pain, stiffness, limitation of motion, and synovitis or joint inflammation. The treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the hand and wrist are distinctly different, often individualized, and may include application of an electrical signal to the joints. [0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,033 to Hoffman, which is specifically incorporated by reference herein, a device is shown that is said to decrease pain and improve joint function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. SUMMARY [0005] Embodiments are disclosed for a medical device that treats diseases of bones and joints, including the hand, wrist, and arm, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In one embodiment, the medical device includes a multi-layer glove system, an arm wrap, a signal generator, lead wires, and a garment. The multi-layer glove system serves as a treatment electrode and the arm wrap serves as a return electrode. The multi-layer glove has a protective outer layer, which protects an underlying electrically conductive layer and prevents accidental electrical contact between the conductive layer and areas of a patient's skin. The signal generator produces a desired waveform, such as a spike shaped electrical signal, through the multi-layer glove system, at the treatment site. The garment has lead wires for connecting the multi-layer glove system and arm wrap to the signal generator. The garment keeps the lead wires in place and helps prevent the user from becoming tangled in the wires. [0006] When a patient operates the medical device, a desired electrical signal is delivered to the joints of the hand and elbow. The system can reduce pain and increase the function of the treated joints. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] For a more complete understanding of various embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: [0008] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a medical device according to an embodiment of the inventions. [0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of an arm wrap as worn. [0010] FIGS. 3A-3C are pictorial views of an insulating inner glove, a conductive glove, and a protective outer glove according to one embodiment. [0011] FIG. 4A is a pictorial view of the protective outer glove of FIG. 3C, with a current-interrupting safety feature. [0012] FIG. 4B is an exploded, partial cross-sectional side view of the multi-layered glove system as worn. [0013] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of a signal generator according to one embodiment. [0014] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the signal generator of FIG. 5. [0015] FIG. 7 is an example of a voltage waveform illustrating characteristics of the electrical treatment signal under no load conditions as produced by an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a medical device 10 that includes a multi-layer glove system (shown by 200, 300, and 400), an arm wrap 101, a signal generator 50, a garment 103, and at least one lead wire 104. The user wears the glove system on the hand, arm wrap 101 around the upper arm, and garment 103 like a jacket. The garment has a pocket 105 for holding signal generator 50. The signal generator, glove system, the patient's hand and wrist, the patient's arm, and the arm wrap form an electrical path. When used, signal generator 50 provides periodic electrical signals that pass to the glove system, up the patient's arm, through the arm wrap 101, and back to the signal generator to try to alleviate the effects of bone and joint diseases. [0017] In one embodiment, garment 103 is a jacket worn over a patient's clothing. Garment 103 may be made of a variety of materials, including traditional clothing fabric or a woven polymer fabric and can be designed for comfort. Garment 103 has at least one lead wire 104 sewn into the material of garment 103, but could have two lead wires, one for treating the left side of the patient's body and one for treating the right side. [0018] Lead wire 104 has a signal generator connection 106, an arm wrap connection 107, and a glove connection 108. Signal generator connection 106 may be a keyed shape to ensure proper connection to the signal generator, also described below. Arm wrap connection 107 and glove connection 108 may be metal snaps, although other releasable connection mechanisms may be used. The connections may be color-coded to ensure connection to the proper component. [0019] Lead wire 104 is attached to, or held within, garment 103 so that when garment 103 is worn, each connection is held for easy attachment to the desired components of medical device 10. In addition, garment 103 helps to prevent the patient from becoming entangled in the lead wires. Signal generator connection 106 is held near pocket 105 for attachment to signal generator 50 in the pocket. Arm wrap connection 107 is held near a point about half way between the elbow and shoulder of the patient for attachment to arm band 101. Garment 103 has a flap 109 to allow the patient easy access to arm wrap 101. Glove connection 108 is held near the wrist for attachment to the multi-layer glove system. A like design would apply to a second lead wire (not shown) for use on the other side of the body. [0020] Garment 103 may have snaps or other releasable connection mechanisms at the locations recited above. The snaps may be used to hold the various connections when not in use. For example, a snap 110 is located near the wrist of the patient and may hold glove connection 108 when the multi-layer glove system is not connected. Continue reading about Protective glove with electrical signal interrupt feature... Full patent description for Protective glove with electrical signal interrupt feature Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Protective glove with electrical signal interrupt feature patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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