Apparatus for diagnosing muscular pain and method of using same

Abstract

Apparatus and method for diagnosing a source of muscular pain, wherein the apparatus includes a housing, an electrical signal generator mounted within the housing, and a pair of electrodes, one of which is mounted on one end of the housing and the other of which is mounted on an opposite end of the housing. The generator may include either an analog waveform generator or a digital signal processor. Each of the electrodes stimulates a muscle with an electrical signal generated by the generator. One of the electrodes has a relatively small contact area for targeting smaller muscles or muscle groups, while the other electrode has a relatively large contact area for targeting larger muscles or muscle groups. The apparatus is a self-contained, wireless unit and is highly maneuverable, which allows a user to quickly and easily diagnose a source of muscle pain.

1 . Apparatus for diagnosing a source of a patient's muscular pain, comprising:
 generating means for generating an electrical signal; and   at least one stimulating means, electrically connected to said generating means, for stimulating a muscle in response to an electrical signal generated by said generating means, said at least one stimulating means being movable relative to a stimulated muscle to locate the existence of a source of pain therein.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising power supply means for providing power to said generating means. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising housing means for housing said generating means and said power supply means. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said power supply means includes a battery. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising grounding means for providing a grounding path for an electrical signal generated by said generating means. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said grounding means includes an electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said generating means includes an analog waveform generator. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising frequency selection means for selecting a frequency for an electrical signal generated by said generating means. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said frequency selection means selects frequencies within a range greater than 0 Hz to about 200 Hz. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising amplitude selection means for selecting an amplitude for an electrical signal generated by said generating means. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said amplitude selection means selects amplitudes within a range of greater than 0 mA to about 200 mA. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising duty cycle selection means for selecting a duty cycle for an electrical signal generated by said generating means. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said duty cycle selection means selects duty cycles within a range of 0% to 100%. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising waveform selection means for selecting a waveform for an electrical signal generated by said generating means. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said waveform selection means selects a periodic waveform. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said waveform selection means selects a periodic waveform from a group consisting of a square waveform, a triangular waveform, a sinusoidal waveform, and a sawtooth waveform. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said waveform selection means selects a waveform which is amplitude modulated. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said waveform selection means selects a waveform which includes first and second periodic signals, one of which is amplitude modulated by the other. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein one of the first and second periodic signals produces a beat frequency in a range of about 1 Hz to about 200 Hz, and wherein the other of said first and second periodic signals is a carrier waveform having a frequency in a range of about 1500 Hz to about 5000 Hz. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first periodic signal is selectable from a group consisting of a square waveform, a triangular waveform, a sinusoidal waveform, and a sawtooth waveform, and wherein the second periodic signal is selectable from a group consisting of a square waveform, a triangular waveform, a sinusoidal waveform, and a sawtooth waveform. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said generating means includes a digital signal processor. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising waveform selection means for selecting a waveform for an electrical signal generated by said generating means. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said waveform selection means selects a periodic waveform. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said waveform selection means selects a periodic waveform from a group consisting of a square waveform, a triangular waveform, a sinusoidal waveform, and a sawtooth waveform. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said waveform selection means selects a waveform which is amplitude modulated. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said waveform selection means selects first and second periodic signals, one of which is amplitude modulated by the other. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein one of the first and second periodic signals produces a beat frequency in a range of about 1 Hz to about 200 Hz, and wherein the other of said first and second periodic signals is a carrier waveform having a frequency in a range of about 1500 Hz to about 5000 Hz. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the first periodic signal is selectable from a, group consisting of a square waveform, a triangular waveform, a sinusoidal waveform, and a sawtooth waveform, and wherein the second periodic signal is selectable from a group consisting of a square waveform, a triangular waveform, a sinusoidal waveform, and a sawtooth waveform. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one stimulating means includes a first stimulating means and a second stimulating means. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said first stimulating means includes a first electrode and said second stimulating means includes a second electrode. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said housing means includes a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first electrode being mounted to said first end of said housing means and said second electrode being mounted to said second end of said housing means. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said first electrode has a first contact area and said second electrode has a second contact area which is smaller than said first contact area of said first electrode. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said housing means is elongated in shape and said first and second ends of said housing means are tapered. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one stimulating means includes an electrode that is mountable to a finger of a user. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said housing means includes attaching means for attaching said housing means to an arm of a user. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein said attaching means includes a strap having a first end and a second end releasably engagable to said first end. 
     
     
         37 . A method for diagnosing a source of a patient's muscular pain, comprising the steps of:
 providing generating means for generating an electrical signal;   providing stimulating means for stimulating a muscle in response to said electrical signal; and   moving said stimulating means relative to said stimulated muscle to locate the existence of a source of pain therein.