Cutaneous device, in particular a pulse generator for electrical stimulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11116970-B2
Application number	US-201515309541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2015
Priority date	May 19, 2014
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A substantially planar device intended to be secured to the skin of a user is disclosed. The device includes components and electrical connection means defining at least one rigid zone of the device. The electrical connection means have, in the plane of the device, a surface corresponding to at least one component and the means are disposed such as to cover the at least one component in order to protect the component mechanically.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly, comprising:
a cutaneous electrode,
an electric cable secured to a plug, and
a substantially planar device attachable to the skin of a user, comprising:
a face configured to be in contact with the skin of a user;
first and second electronic components; and
first and second electrical connection elements,

the first electrical connection element forming a first rigid area covering the first electronic component, the second electrical connection element forming a second rigid area covering the second electronic component, each of the first and second electrical connection elements having a planar upper surface and a planar lower surface, wherein the first electronic component is positioned between the first electrical connection element and the face, and the second electronic component is positioned between the second electrical connection element and the face, the first and second electrical connection elements providing mechanical protection of the first and second electronic components, respectively,
the cutaneous electrode being connected to the electric cable secured to the plug which cooperates with any one of said first and second electrical connection elements.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rigid areas are electrically and mechanically connected to a flexible area extending therebetween, the first electronic component being mounted to the first rigid area.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second electronic component is mounted to the second rigid area, the flexible area having a width L, the first and second electrical connection elements having a height H, wherein L<πH.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein L<2 H.

5. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second electronic component is mounted to the second rigid area.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the each of the first and second electrical connection elements has, in the plane of the device, a surface area greater than that occupied by the corresponding electronic component, and is aligned with the corresponding electronic to cover the corresponding electronic component.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the first electrical connection element includes at least one opening configured to cooperate with the plug.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises first and second layers forming a stack, the first layer comprising the first and second electrical connection elements, and the second layer comprising the first and second electronic components and a flexible circuit element, wherein the first and second electronic components are mounted on the flexible circuit element.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a third flexible layer in contact with the second layer, the third layer cooperating with the first layer to encapsulate the second layer.

10. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first rigid area covers a first area of the flexible circuit element occupied by the first electronic component.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second rigid area covers a second area of the flexible circuit element occupied by the second electronic component.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connection element comprises a ferromagnetic metal.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first complementary rigid element positioned proximate to the first electronic component, the first electronic component being disposed between the first rigid area and the first complementary rigid element.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a second complementary rigid element positioned proximate to the second electrical connection element, the second electronic component being disposed between the second rigid area and the second complementary rigid element.

15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and the second electronic components is at least one of an integrated circuit, a resistor, an inductor, a capacitor, a diode, a battery cell, an accumulator, a battery, and a super-capacitor.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second electrical connection elements are configured to cooperate with the plug to provide electrical connection between the device and the cutaneous electrode.

Assignees

• Commissariat Energie Atomique

Inventors

• Perraud Simon
• Karst Nicolas
• Salomon Jérémie

Classifications

• A61N1/0492

  Patch electrodes (A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61N1/36014 Primary

  External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes (external pacemakers A61N1/3625) · CPC title

• A61N1/0456

  Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS] · CPC title

• A61N1/36021

  for treatment of pain · CPC title

• A61N1/36003

  of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance · CPC title