WO2006038235A2

WO2006038235A2 - Underwear such as brasseries and pants, with incorporated electrodes for transcutaneous neural electrostimulation

Info

Publication number: WO2006038235A2
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000557
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Ballarin; David Ballarin
Original assignee: Comet S.R.L.
Priority date: 2004-10-07
Filing date: 2004-10-07
Publication date: 2006-04-13
Also published as: WO2006038235A3

Abstract

The invention concerns underwear, such as brassieres, bustiers and pants, constituted by two or more layers of fabric (T1, T2), joined by thermoforming, between which electrodes (E) are inserted for transcutaneous neural electrostimulation. Each electrode comprises a plate or metal lamina and is equipped with a connection wire (C). The connection wires (C) are inserted and included between said layers (T1, T2) of the underwear (I).

Description

UNDERWEAR SUCHAS BRASSFERES AND PANTS. WITH INCORPORATED

ELECTRODESFOR TRANSCUTANEOUSNEURAL

ELECTJROSTIMULATION DESCRIPTION

The present patent concerns underwear and transcutaneous electrostimulators. Transcutaneous electrostimulators are known, designed to apply a series of impulses that act either on the motor points of the muscles or on the nerve endings, causing a muscular contraction similar to a voluntary contraction. In particular, some types of variable currents satisfy the need for prompt physical recovery as they stimulate muscular contraction, promoting normalisation of the blood supply; at the same time they perform a trophic action on the tissues, also stimulating the motor neurons. Electrostimulators consist basically of a container housing an electronic circuit and batteries, stimulation electrodes and electrical connection wires. The electronic circuit is designed to generate electrical impulses with appropriate intensity, duration and waveform for the treatment required.

The electrodes consist of pads, plates or other electroconductive elements fixed by straps or provided with an adhesive surface, so that they can be positioned at the points of the body where the electrical stimuli are required.

The electronic circuit is connected to each specific electrode by means of a connection wire, so that said electronic circuit can channel the electrical stimulus to the specific electrode and therefore to the specific point on the body. Currently electrostimulators are used in various sectors for various purposes, including:

- sports: isolation of the muscular group treated, protection of the muscle-tendon system, saving of physical and psychological energy, recruitment of a larger number of muscle fibres with respect to voluntary contraction, exercise of muscle fibres little used in ordinary work sessions, reduction of recovery times, elimination of overload on the joints, improvement of blood circulation and activation of endorphins;

- beauty treatments: improvement of the capillary microcirculation, mobilisation of fat, toning and firming of tissues, drainage of liquids, increase in metabolism and cell activity, reduction in fat of localised deposits and cellulite;

- wellbeing: to reduce pain, increase endorphins and maintain muscular tone;

- rehabilitation: treatment of post-traumatic and post-surgical muscular amyotrophia, re-acquisition of muscular strength, re-equilibrium of proprioceptive control, treatment of contractures, motor recovery.

Currently the electrodes are kept in position on the body by means of elastic straps, belts or adhesive layers; the electrostimulator circuit container is hand-held or rested on the bed; the connection wires are free around the body.

In electrostimulation and electrotherapy the choice and correct arrangement of the electrodes is very important; they must be in perfect contact with the skin and at specific points, otherwise the electrical stimulus does not produce the desired effect.

With normal movements there is the risk of the electrodes moving and the user must keep still for the entire treatment period.

Therefore, to perform an electrostimulation treatment the user has to undress, correctly apply all the electrodes on the various parts of the body, connect each electrode to a connection wire and connect the various connection wires to the electronic circuit. For the entire duration of the electrostimulation treatment, as mentioned above, the user is obliged to limit the movements of the part of the body being treated. At the end of the electrostimulation treatment the circuit, wires and electrodes must be disconnected, the electrodes must be removed from the body and the user must get dressed again. All this involves a pre- and post-treatment preparation time which, in practice, is as long as the electrostimulation treatment time itself.

Electrostimulation sessions do not require the active participation of the person subjected to the treatment, who actually remains seated or lies down. Substantially seam-free and thermoformed and/or elastic underwear is known.

Said garments are obtained by appropriate cutting and shaping of fabrics and consist of:

- at least one natural or mainly natural fabric, for example cotton or cotton with nylon microfiber; - at least one thermoformable fabric, for example nylon fabric or fabric containing mainly nylon or another elastomeric fiber.

The two fabrics are combined, positioned on a mould in the final shape required, compressed one onto the other and heated to a temperature sufficient to obtain thermoforming of the synthetic fibers and adhesion of the layers. Said garments are particularly comfortable, as they have no seams, which in the past were used to join the various parts of the garment.

In addition, said garments have better wearability, due both to the lack of said seams and to the fact that the two fabrics combined can be preformed on moulds much more similar to the part of the body on which they are to be worn. To facilitate performance of the electrostimulation treatments, new underwear such as brassieres and pants has been designed and produced, with incorporated electrodes for transcutaneous neural electrostimulation.

The aim of the new underwear is to permit accurate and correct positioning of all the electrodes necessary for the electrostimulation. A further aim of the new underwear is to keep the electrodes in the correct position for the entire duration of the electrostimulation treatment.

A further aim of the new underwear is to enable the user to receive an electrostimulation treatment without having to get undressed and dressed again.

A further aim of the new underwear is to eliminate the need for the user to connect each connection wire to each electrode, consequently eliminating the possibility of errors. A further aim of the new underwear is to keep the electrode connection wires tidy so that they do not hinder the user.

A further aim of the new underwear is to allow the user to carry out other activities during the electrostimulation treatment.

These and other aims, direct and complementary, are achieved by the new underwear produced with two or more layers of combined and thermoformed fabric, between which the electrodes and connection wires are inserted and correctly positioned.

At least one of the layers of fabric that make up each garment is thermoformable and can be joined, by heating and surface melting, to the other layers of fabric of the underwear. The innermost layer of fabric can feature windows or apertures corresponding to the positions of the electrodes.

The electrodes, provided with their connection wires, are appropriately positioned between the layers of fabric before they are thermo-joined and thermoformed.

In particular, the electrodes are placed in the garment in the positions that ensure the maximum electrostimulation effect. In said positions the innermost fabric can be provided with windows to permit direct contact between each electrode and the user's skin.

The electrode connection wires are appropriately arranged, for example on the hips, so that when the garment is worn, they are in a comfortable position and the connection cable terminals are grouped together in a convenient, easily accessible position.

The fabrics of the new garment can be conveniently elastic, so as to keep the electrodes in contact with the user's body.

The user wears the underwear under his/her other clothes and in direct contact with the skin, like normal underwear.

When the user wishes to receive an electrostimulation treatment, he/she doesn't need to get undressed; all he/she has to do is partially lift the edge of his/her outer clothes in order to access the underwear electrode connection wire terminals and connect the usual electrostimulation electronic circuit. The container of said electrostimulation circuit can be attached to the waistband, to the outer clothing or placed in a pocket provided on the underwear. At the end of the electrostimulation treatment, the user switches off and disconnects the electronic circuit and rearranges his/her outer clothing.

Underwear (I), such as brassieres, bustiers and pants, consisting of two or more layers of fabric (Tl, T2), joined by thermoforming, between which electrodes (E) are positioned for transcutaneous neural electrostimulation. The characteristics of the new underwear, such as brassieres and pants, with incorporated electrodes for transcutaneous neural electrostimulation will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description of one among many possible applications of the invention, illustrated in the attached drawings.

In the following drawings and description a pair of cyclist shorts is used as an underwear example, but the considerations made apply to any underwear, such as pants in all lengths, knickers, brassieres, bustiers, girdles, corsets, T-shirts, vests, leggings, Bermudas and so on.

Figure 1 shows an underwear garment (I), in this example a pair of shorts, consisting of two combined fabrics (Tl, T2), various electrodes (E) and connection wires (C). Figure 2 shows a cross section of the new underwear garment (I), while Figure 3 is a view of the inner side of the underwear garment (I) in the area around an electrode

(E). The new underwear garment (I) consists of two layers of fabric (Tl, T2) combined and joined together. In this example, for convenience of explanation, only two layers of fabric are shown.

In particular, at least one of the layers of fabric (T2) consists, totally or partially, of thermoformable and thermoadhesive synthetic fiber, such as nylon or another elastomeric fiber. Preferably said fabric consisting of thermoformable fibers (T2) is the outer fabric, in the case of only two layers of fabric.

The other layers of fabric of the underwear garment (I) can be made again of synthetic fibers or also natural fibers, such as cotton, or synthetic fibers, or compositions of natural and synthetic fibers.

The layers of fabric (Tl, T2) can be elastic or elasticised.

The various layers of fabric (Tl, T2) are combined, joined together and shaped into the required form by positioning, pressing and heating via one of the known procedures normally used for simple thermoforrned garments. The electrodes (E) consist of pads, plates, small portions of wire netting or mesh.

The electrodes (E) formed as above are each provided with a fine electrically insulated connection wire (C).

The electrodes (E) and the respective connection wires are inserted between the two layers (Tl, T2) of the underwear garment (I). In particular each electrode (E) is appropriately positioned, so that when the underwear garment (I) is worn it is in exactly the right position for electrostimulation.

In view of the above, the innermost layer of fabric (Tl) of the underwear garment (I), that is, the layer of fabric (Tl) that is in contact with the skin of the user when the underwear garment (I) is worn, is in this case provided with holes (TIa) at pre-set points, i.e. at the points that correspond to the position of the electrodes (E). In particular, said apertures or windows (TIa) have dimensions smaller than those of the electrodes (E) in order to retain them at the edges.

In this way each electrode (E) incorporated between the layers of fabric (Tl, T2) is in the right position, identified by the position of the part of the underwear garment (I) when it is worn, and its surface is in direct contact with the user's skin. The connection wires (C) are arranged between the two layers of fabric (Tl, T2) so that their free terminals are preferably grouped together at one point or in one single area on the edge of the underwear garment, in order not to cause discomfort or inconvenience, for example on the waistband side for pants or shorts, or centrally above the stomach for brassieres and bustiers. Furthermore, said connection wires (C) follow a path that does not cause discomfort or inconvenience to the user when he/she is wearing the underwear (I).

The electrodes (E) and the connection wires (C) are inserted and positioned between the layers of fabric (Tl, T2) during the combination, thermo-joining and thermoforming of the layers of fabric (Tl, T2). In this way the electrodes (E) are positioned and are retained at the appropriate points, while the connection wires (C) follow paths that do not cause discomfort or inconvenience to the user when he/she is wearing the underwear (I).

The electrodes (E) can be further kept in the correct position in the new underwear garment (I) by stitching around the edge of the electrode (E). The electrodes (E) can also be removable rather than permanently joined and inserted between the layers (Tl, T2). For said purpose, the innermost or outermost fabric (Tl, T2) of the new underwear garment (I) is provided with pockets or compartments in the possible positions in which the electrodes (E) can be applied. Consequently, said electrodes (E) can be positioned and configured in different ways in the underwear garment (I), thus permitting different electrostimulation functions.

Again, it is possible to provide a pocket or attachment to retain and/or support the container (D) of the electrostimulation electronic circuit (X) on the waistband, on the edge or in any case in a concealed position on the underwear garment (I), in such a way as to avoid creating any discomfort.

The advantages deriving from the new underwear garment (I) are considerable. The user wears the new underwear garment (I) as if it were a normal underwear garment, under his/her other clothes and in direct contact with the skin.

The electrodes (E) are in the right positions, in contact with the user's skin. The connection wires (C), incorporated in the layers of fabric (Tl, T2), do not cause discomfort or inconvenience and are not visible through the clothes. The free terminals of the connection wires (C) are grouped at one point or in one single area on the edge of the underwear garment, so as not to cause discomfort or inconvenience.

When the user wishes to receive an electrostimulation treatment, he/she simply lifts the edges of his/her outer clothes to access the connection wire terminals of the electrodes (E) of the new underwear garment (I) and connects them to the electrostimulation electronic circuit (X), thus initiating the passage of current.

The container (D) of the electrostimulation circuit (X) can be provided with a hook and can be conveniently hooked to the waistband, to the outer clothes or be inserted in a pocket obtained in the underwear garment (I) itself. At the end of the electrostimulation treatment, the user switches off and disconnects the electronic circuit (X), removes the container (D) and rearranges his/her outer clothes.

In this way the user does not have to undress and get dressed again, since the electrodes (E) are already in contact with the skin, the user does not have to check and maintain the position of the electrodes (E), since their position is determined and maintained by the underwear garment (I), the user does not necessarily have to be seated or lying down, because the electrodes do not move but remain in position, the electrodes (E) and the connection wires (C) are not visible and do not cause discomfort either during the electrostimulation sessions or between two electrostimulation sessions.

The new underwear garment (I) can be conveniently put on in the morning, like any normal piece of underwear, while the electrostimulation electronic circuit (X) can be connected and the electrostimulation treatment performed at any time during the day. Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are put forth.

Claims

1. Underwear (I)₃ brassieres, bustiers and pants, characterised in that they consist of two or more layers of fabric (Tl, T2), joined by thermoforming, between which electrodes (E) are inserted for transcutaneous neural electrostimulation.

2. Underwear (I) according to claim 1, characterised in that each electrode (E) is provided with a connection wire (C), and wherein the connection wires (C) are inserted and included between said layers (Tl, T2) of the underwear (I).

3. Underwear (I) according to claims 1, 2, characterised in that the free end of the connection wires (C) is positioned in a convenient, easily accessible position on the underwear (I), preferably on an edge of said underwear (I).

4. Underwear (I) according to claims 1, 2, 3, characterised in that the innermost layers of fabric (Tl) are provided with holes or apertures (TIa) in correspondence with said electrodes (E).

5. Underwear (I) according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, characterised in that each electrode (E) consists of a plate or metal lamina.

6. Underwear (I) according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, characterised in that each electrode (E) consists of portions of wire netting or mesh.

7. Underwear (I) according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the underwear (I) is provided with a pocket for supporting or housing the container (D) of the electrostimulation electronic circuit (X).

8. Underwear (I) according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the electrodes (E) are kept in the correct position by stitching.

9. Underwear (I) according to the preceding claims, characterised in that one or more layers of fabric (Tl, T2) are elastic or elasticised.