A method and apparatus for eliciting a physiologically significant cough reflex, such as in a quadriplegic patient. The apparatus preferably at least one pair of electrodes which are positioned about or near the abdominal muscles. A pushbutton switch is preferably used to generate an input signal. An oscillator is preferably used to generate a stimulus pulse signal. The input signal and the stimulus pulse signal are computed into an output signal. The output signal is transformed into a pulse electrical voltage which is delivered across each pair of electrodes. Such pulse electrical voltage activates the lower motor neurons and thereby contracts the abdominal muscles to elicit a physiologically significant cough reflex.
This invention deals with inducing urination and/or defecation through electro-magnetic induction. The claimed method provides a non-invasive procedure to stimulate excretory functions in paraplegic and quadriplegic patients.
