Protective glove with electrical signal interrupt feature

Abstract

A medical device treats diseases of the hand, wrist, and arm, including osteoarthritis and osteoarthrosis of the joints of the human hand. 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 the treatment electrode and the arm wrap serves as the 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 specific, spike shaped electrical signal, together with the multi-layer glove system, at the treatment site. The device can reduce pain and increase joint function of the treated joints.

1 . A medical device comprising: 
 a multi-layered glove system having a non-invasive conductive layer and a protective layer;    the non-invasive conductive layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface making electrical contact with at least a portion of a hand of a patient, the non-invasive conductive layer receiving an electrical signal through a first releasable conductive lead;    the protective layer covering at least substantially all of the outer surface of the non-invasive conductive layer and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the protective layer having a lead for receiving an electrical signal and having a second releasable conductive lead;    the first releasable conductive lead being electrically coupled to the second releasable conductive lead when the layers are worn, the releasable conductive leads constructed and positioned such that the releasable conductive leads are disconnected in order to remove the protective layer from the hand, thereby automatically breaking the electrical connection between the releasable conductive leads.    
   
   
       2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a signal generator for producing a desired electrical signal in at least a portion of the patient's body, the signal generator being electrically coupled to the non-invasive conductive layer through the releasable conductive leads.  
   
   
       3 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the desired electrical signal is a periodic signal selected to rebuild cartilage of a joint when applied to a joint of the human body.  
   
   
       4 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the desired electrical signal is a voltage-sourced, spike-shaped, monophasic, repeating, and asymmetrical DC signal characterized by an exponential decay and having a frequency of about 95 to 105 hertz, a voltage of about 0 to 12 volts at the peak, a voltage and current pulse width of about 1.8 ms at the 10% point of peak and about 0.64 ms at the 50% point of peak, and a current of about 0 to 24 mA at 500 ohms resistive load with an average of about 0.2 mA at 500 ohms resistive load.  
   
   
       5 . The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the desired electrical signal is subsensory.  
   
   
       6 . The medical device of  claim 2 , further comprising a lead wire for coupling to a portion of the patient's arm, the lead wire, signal generator, non-invasive conductive layer, patient's hand and wrist, and patient's arm forming an electrical circuit.  
   
   
       7 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable conductive leads include conductive hook-and-loop connections.  
   
   
       8 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the protective layer is constructed of spandex and has a rubberized coating covering the inner surface.  
   
   
       9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the non-invasive conductive layer is constructed of silver plated nylon.  
   
   
       10 . A method comprising: 
 covering at least a portion of a hand of a patient with a non-invasive conductive layer, such that an inner surface of the non-invasive conductive layer makes electrical contact with at least a portion of the hand of the patient, the non-invasive conductive layer having an outer surface and receiving an electrical signal through a first releasable conductive lead;    covering the hand of the patient and the entire outer surface of the non-invasive conductive layer with a protective layer, the protective layer having a lead for receiving an electrical signal and having a second releasable conductive lead;    coupling the conductive leads such that the first releasable conductive lead and second releasable conductive lead are electrically coupled when the protective layer is provided over the non-invasive conductive layer; and disconnects the first releasable conductive lead and second releasable conductive lead when the protective layer is removed to automatically break the electrical connection between the releasable conductive leads.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising producing a desired electrical signal in at least a portion of the patient's body by electrically coupling the non-invasive conductive layer to a signal generator through the releasable conductive leads.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the desired electrical signal is a periodic signal selected to rebuild cartilage of a joint when applied to a joint of the human body.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the desired electrical signal is a voltage-sourced, spike-shaped, monophasic, repeating, and asymmetrical DC signal characterized by an exponential decay and having a frequency of about 95 to 105 hertz, a voltage of about 0 to 12volts at the peak, a voltage and current pulse width of about 1.8 ms at the 10% point of peak and about 0.64 ms at the 50% point of peak, and a current of about 0 to 24 mA at 500 ohms resistive load with an average of about 0.2 mA at 500 ohms resistive load.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the desired electrical signal is subsensory.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a lead wire to a portion of the patient's arm, the lead wire, signal generator, non-invasive conductive layer and patient's arm forming an electrical circuit.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the releasable conductive leads include conductive hook-and-loop connections.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the protective layer is constructed of spandex and has a rubberized coating covering the inner surface.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the non-invasive conductive layer is constructed of silver plated nylon.