# US 5,010,895 A · Expandable vaginal electrode

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- Number: US 5,010,895 A
- Document ID: US5010895A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/389,175
- Filed: 1989-08-03
- Granted: 1991-04-30
- Earliest claimed: 1989-08-03
- Assignees: Empi, Inc.
- Inventors: Donald D. Maurer; Stacy D. Mattson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5010895A

## CPC

- A61N 1/0524: {Vaginal electrodes}
- A61B 1/32: Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body
- A61F 2/005: {with pressure applied to urethra by an element placed in the vagina}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

A vaginal electrode adapted to be inserted into a woman's vagina and used as part of a stimulation system to stimulate and constrict muscles surrounding the vagina to prevent the flow of urine through the urethra. The electrode includes a nonconductive sheet of material formed into a diametrically compressible spiral tending to unwind. An exterior surface of the sheet contacts the interior vaginal wall after the electrode is inserted into a vagina. Conductive electrode elements circumferentially oriented on the exterior surface of the sheet are thereby forced into electrical contact with the vaginal wall. Leads couple electrical stimulation signals to the electrode elements.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vaginal electrode, including:
a sheet of material having a first surface and windable into a spiral, the sheet of material tending to unwind after insertion into a woman's vagina to force the first surface against the vaginal wall;
a plurality of electrically isolated conductive electrode elements on the first surface of the sheet of material so as to contact the vaginal wall after insertion; and
leads for coupling electrical signals to the electrode elements.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1 wherein the wound spiral sheet of material forms several overlapping layers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1 wherein the sheet of material includes a polymer sheet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1 wherein the sheet of material includes a polymer-covered, thin metal sheet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1 wherein the sheet of material includes a nonconductive sheet of shape memory material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1 wherein the electrode elements include conductive polymer elements.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electrode of claim 6 wherein the electrode elements include carbon-loaded silicone rubber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electrode of claim 7 and further including nonconductive silicone rubber between the electrode elements on the first surface of the sheet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1 wherein:
the leads include conductors woven into the sheet of material and having contact portions which extend from the first surface; and
the electrode elements include conductive elements on the first surface of the sheet and in electrical contact with the contact portions of the leads.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electrode of claim 9 wherein the electrode elements include conductive polymer elements.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The electrode of claim 10 wherein the electrode elements include carbon-loaded silicone rubber.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The electrode of claim 11 and further including nonconductive silicone rubber on the first surface of the sheet between the electrode elements.

### Claim 13

A vaginal electrode, including:
a nonconductive sheet of material formed into a diametrically compressible spiral constructed to unwind, with a first surface contacting a vaginal wall after insertion into the vagina;
conductive leads woven into the sheet having contact portions exposed on the first surface of the sheet;
conductive electrode elements extending along the first surface of the sheet and in electrical contact with the contact portions so as to contact the vaginal wall after insertion; and
nonconductive strips extending along the first surface of the sheet between the electrode elements.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The electrode of claim 13 wherein the wound nonconductive sheet of material forms several overlapping layers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The electrode of claim 13 wherein the sheet of material includes a polymer sheet.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The electrode of claim 13 wherein the sheet of material includes a polymer-covered, thin metal sheet.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The electrode of claim 13 wherein the sheet of material includes a nonconductive sheet of shape memory material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The electrode of claim 13 wherein the electrode elements include conductive polymer elements.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The electrode of claim 18 wherein the electrode elements include carbon loaded silicon rubber.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The electrode of claim 13 wherein the strips include nonconductive silicon rubber strips.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The electrode of claim 13 wherein the leads are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spiral.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The electrode of claim 13 wherein the electrode elements are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spiral.

### Claim 23

A vaginal electrode, including:
a nonconductive sheet of material wound to form a diametrically compressible spiral having several layers and constructed to unwind, with a first surface contacting a vaginal wall after insertion into the vagina;
a plurality of electrically isolated conductive electrode elements positioned on the first surface of the nonconductive sheet to contact the vaginal wall after insertion; and
leads for coupling electrical signals to the electrode elements.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The electrode of claim 23 wherein the nonconductive sheet of material includes a sheet of shape memory material.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The electrode of claim 23 wherein:
the leads include conductors woven into the sheet of material and having contact portions which extend from the first surface; and
the electrode elements include conductive elements on the first surface of the sheet and in electrical contact with the contact portions of the leads.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The electrode of claim 25 wherein the electrode elements include conductive polymer elements.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The electrode of claim 26 wherein the electrode elements include carbon-loaded silicone rubber.