EP3019237A1

EP3019237A1 - Footwear for magnetotherapy and assembly for magnetotherapy comprising said footwear

Info

Publication number: EP3019237A1
Application number: EP13821146.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Aldegheri; Giuseppe TAGLIALAVORO; Luca SGARBI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-12
Filing date: 2013-12-10
Publication date: 2016-05-18
Also published as: ITPD20130193A1; WO2015004498A1

Abstract

Footwear for magnetotherapy, which comprises: - a support structure (2) provided with a sole (3), susceptible of resting on the ground during the deambulation of the user who wears the footwear (1), and with an upper (4), connected to the sole (3); - an inductor (5), mounted on the support structure (2); - means (6) for supplying electrical power to at least the inductor (5), associated with the support structure (2). The footwear 1 is characterized in that it further comprises an electronic circuit (13), which is mounted on the support structure (2) and comprises: an electronic control unit (14); a module for controlling the electric current (15) connected to the control unit (14) and operatively associated with the inductor (5) in order to send to the latter an electric current controlled by the control unit (14); and a communications module (16) connected to the control unit (14) and susceptible of receiving programming signals from a user. The control unit (14) is adapted to receive the programming signals from a user through the communications module (16), and it is adapted to translate them into control signals relative to the operating parameters of the inductor (5) so that the inductor (5) generates a magnetic field having the desired characteristics. Also forming an object of the invention is an assembly for magnetotherapy comprising the aforesaid footwear and a processing module, adapted to be installed in the remote unit (17) and provided with a user interface adapted to allow a user to insert and send the programming signals to the communications module (16) of the control unit (14).

Description

FOOTWEAR FOR MAGNETOTHERAPY AND ASSEMBLY FOR MAGNETOTHERAPY COMPRISING SAID FOOTWEAR

DESCRIPTION

Field of application

The present invention regards a footwear article for magnetotherapy and an assembly for magnetotherapy comprising the aforesaid footwear according to the preamble of the respective independent claims.

The present footwear is intended to be advantageously worn by a person who wishes to benefit from a magnetic therapy localized on one or both feet, and for such purpose adapted to develop a magnetic field that at least partially hits the foot wearing the footwear.

The footwear according to the present invention is therefore inserted in the industrial field of production of medical devices, and more in detail in the industrial field of production of home therapy devices and in that of production of electromedical apparatuses.

State of the art

In the medical and therapeutic field, it has for some time been verified that the application of an electromagnetic field on the human body or on a part thereof is capable of supplying considerable benefits.

In particular, it has been verified that the application of electromagnetic fields of suitable frequency and intensity on parts of the body affected by lesions stimulates, in the latter, the regeneration of the tissues, accelerating the recovery process thereof.

Magnetotherapy is therefore employed as an instrumental therapy, possibly also associated with other forms of therapy, such as pharmacological therapy, in the treatment of numerous pathologies such as pathologies that affect bone tissue (e.g. osteoporosis or fractures with possible delayed bone consolidation), skin pathologies (e.g. contusions, scars, or skin ulcers also of vascular origin, in particular for example in diabetic subjects), pathologies which involve the articular and periarticular system (e.g. muscular-articular traumas or sprains/strains), pathologies which involve the nervous system (e.g. nervous lesions) or pathologies which involve the peripheral vascular circulation.

More in detail, magnetotherapy provides for the setting, on the part of the body to be treated, of magnetic fields of static type or dynamic type with suitable intensity and frequency.

Generally, the electromedical apparatuses necessary for carrying out the magnetotherapy are available at medical facilities, such as hospitals, outpatient departments or public and private clinics, so that the patient to whom such therapy is prescribed is obliged to go to the aforesaid structures, every day or several times a week, in order to carry out a suitable number of treatment sessions; each of such sessions has duration generally comprised between 20 and 30 minutes, according to the pathology.

The rather limited duration of the sessions is set so as to not require the patient to undergo overly long sessions; however, this often leads to reduced treatment effectiveness. Longer exposure to magnetic fields would indeed be advised for the treatment of some pathologies, for example osteoarticular pathologies (such as diabetic foot, tendinopathies, metatarsalgia, etc.).

Thus, in order to allow the execution of therapeutic sessions of greater duration, and in particular of a suitable duration as a function of the specific pathology, without however obliging the patient to go to the aforesaid medical facilities for extended time periods, portable devices have been developed over time for the generation of magnetic fields and the setting of the same on the body parts of interest.

For example, for such purpose a device is known comprising a support structure, a printed circuit mounted on the support structure and comprising a magnetic field generator, an antenna adapted to diffuse the magnetic field produced by the generator and an energy source, it too associated with the support structure and connected to the magnetic field generator by means of a switch. The turning on of the device by means of the switch allows driving the magnetic field generator. Such device is adapted to be employed in order to subject any part of the body to magnetotherapy, also including a foot. In the latter case, the device is obtained in the form of an insole adapted to be inserted in a footwear article. The support structure, defining the insole, is composed of two superimposed mirrored parts, glued to each other and made of a gel material; together, such parts define a housing seat for the printed circuit, the antenna and the energy source, so that the latter are incorporated in the insole.

The device described briefly above nevertheless has several drawbacks.

The main drawback lies in the fact that such device is capable of generating and setting, on the desired body portion, a magnetic field having predefined and preset characteristics, which cannot be modified during therapy, nor can they be modified as a function of the specific therapeutic needs of the patient. Therefore, the aforesaid device is not adapted to be personalized and it is not capable of administering an ad hoc magnetotherapy to the patient; the latter therapy is adapted to the specific conditions of the patient and the characteristics of the pathology which affects such patient, and it can be modified over time upon the variation of the aforesaid characteristics and conditions.

The above-described device is therefore not adapted to provide the most personalized therapy possible to the single patient.

A further drawback consists of the fact that the insole might not be correctly positioned by the patient inside the footwear, or it can in any case be moved during deambulation, such that it can be difficult to predict the exact characteristics of the magnetic field administered in a specific zone of the foot.

Presentation of the invention

The main object of the present finding is therefore to eliminate the drawbacks of the abovementioned prior art by providing a footwear article for magnetotherapy which allows a patient to carry out magnetotherapy sessions in complete autonomy, without it being necessary for such patient to go to specially equipped medical facilities.

Another object of the present finding is to obtain a footwear article for magnetotherapy which allows a patient to carry out magnetotherapy sessions that are prolonged over time, without however forcing him to be immobile during such sessions.

A further object of the present finding is to obtain a footwear article for magnetotherapy which allows administering a personalized therapy to the patient, generating a magnetic field having characteristics expressly optimized as a function of the patient and of the characteristics of the specific pathology with which he is affected.

Another object of the present finding is to obtain a footwear article for magnetotherapy which allows generating a magnetic field having characteristics that can vary over time, as a function of the progression of the therapy. A further object of the present finding is to obtain a footwear article for magnetotherapy that is structurally simple and entirely reliable in operation.

Another object of the present finding is to provide an assembly for magnetotherapy that is easy to use.

These and still other objects are all achieved by the footwear and by the assembly for magnetotherapy according to the present invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the finding, according to the aforesaid objects, are clearly found in the contents of the below-reported claims and the advantages thereof will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represent a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the footwear for magnetotherapy according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the footwear of figure 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the assembly for magnetotherapy according to the present invention comprising the footwear of figure 1 ;

FIGURES 4 and 4a respectively show a plan view of a detail of the footwear of figure 3, relative to an inner sole bearing, mounted, two provided inductors extended in a direction orthogonal to the inner sole between a lower limit plane and an upper limit plane, with the lines of equal field strength indicated at a distance of 1 cm from the upper limit extension plane of the inductors, and a graph reporting the modulus of the magnetic induction field (expressed in μΤ) generated by the inductor on the forefoot, in darker color, and by the inductor on the rearfoot, in lighter color, on a reference plane placed at a distance of 1 cm from the upper limit extension plane of the inductors, as a function of the distance from the inductors on the same reference plane;

FIGURES 5 and 5a respectively show a plan view of a detail of the footwear of figure 3, relative to an inner sole bearing, mounted, two different inductors, in particular constituted by coils of aluminum wire, extended in a direction orthogonal to the inner sole between a lower limit plane and an upper limit plane, with the lines of equal field strength indicated at a distance of 1 cm from the upper limit extension plane of the inductors, and a graph reporting the modulus of the magnetic induction field (expressed in μΤ) generated by the inductor on the forefoot, in darker color, and by the inductor on the rearfoot, in lighter color, on a reference plane placed at a distance of 1 cm from the upper limit extension plane of the inductors, as a function of the distance from the inductors on the same reference plane;

FIG. 6 shows a logic block diagram of an electronic circuit provided in the footwear according to the present invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment With reference to the set of drawings, reference number 1 indicates overall the footwear for magnetotherapy, object of the present finding, and 100 indicates the assembly for magnetotherapy comprising the aforesaid footwear 1, also object of the present finding.

The footwear 1 and more generally the assembly 100 according to the present invention are adapted to be employed both in hospitals and at home, in order to set a magnetic therapy for a patient at the feet of the latter.

Preferably, the footwear 1 according to the invention is adapted to be autonomously used by a patient, without it being necessary for the latter to go to dedicated medical facilities for the prescribed magnetotherapy sessions. More in detail, as will be better explained hereinbelow, the footwear 1 is adapted to be programmed, both in an initial step of the therapy and subsequently at provided time intervals during the course of the therapy itself, in order to administer a personalized therapy to the patient who uses it, suitably designed as a function of his conditions and the characteristics of the pathology affecting him.

In particular, the footwear 1 according to the present invention allows the patient to carry out magnetotherapy sessions that are also prolonged over time, with a duration for example of several hours, without however being obliged to remain immobile during such sessions; immobility is instead generally required in the magnetotherapy sessions carried out by means of conventional electromedical devices at dedicated medical facilities.

The present footwear 1 comprises a support structure 2 provided with a sole 3, susceptible of resting on the ground during the deambulation of the user who wears the footwear 1 , and with an upper 4, connected in a conventional manner to the sole 3.

The footwear 1 further comprises one or more inductors 5, each mounted on the support structure 2, and electrical power supply means 6, adapted to supply power to at least the inductors 5 and associated with the support structure 2. More in detail, the inductor 5 is preferably associated with the sole 3 of the support structure 2, such that the magnetic field generated thereby hits at least one portion of the sole of the foot that wears the footwear 1.

Otherwise, as a function of the specific zone of the foot that must be subjected to magnetotherapy, the inductor 5 can be associated with the upper 4 of the support structure 2. If for example the footwear 1 must be employed for subjecting the calcaneal zone of a patient to magnetotherapy - such patient affected by painful pathologies of the rearfoot, such as a tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon, a medial or lateral talalgia of neuropathic nature (such as the tarsal tunnel syndrome) - the inductor 5 can for example be mounted on the upper 4 of the footwear 1, predisposed in the calcaneal zone of the latter, e.g. horseshoe-shaped in order to enclose the user's calcaneum with the magnetic field generated thereby.

In addition, the same footwear 1 can comprise more than one inductor 5 in order to hit, with the magnetic fields generated thereby, a wider zone or different zones of the foot.

The number and position of the inductors 5 is preferably established on the basis of the specific therapeutic needs of the patient. For standardization requirements, it is nevertheless possible to provide that the footwear 1 according to the present invention can be made in accordance with three preferred embodiments: one bearing the inductor 5 associated with a front portion of the sole 3, one bearing the inductor 5 associated with a median portion of the sole 3 and finally one bearing the inductor 5 associated with a rear portion of the sole 3.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment of the footwear 1 according to the invention, the support structure 2 comprises a support insole 7, mounted on the upper part of the sole 3 and bearing, fixed, the inductor 5. Preferably the support insole 7 is made of a rigid material, and advantageously the inductor 5 is incorporated in such support insole 7, as illustrated in figure 2. In such a manner, the inductor 5 is protected from possible mechanical stresses that could affect it during the use of the footwear 1, e.g. due to the body weight of the patient himself, which affects the sole 3 of the footwear 1 during deambulation, or also due to possible impact that could affect the footwear itself. In particular, the support structure 2 can also comprise an abutment insole 8, adapted to be mounted inside the footwear 1, on the upper part of the support insole 7 and adapted to receive, in abutment thereon, the sole of the foot that wears the footwear 1. The abutment insole 8 can in particular be made of a material adapted to facilitate the wear comfort for the patient who wears the footwear 1, such as a soft and pliable material.

Advantageously, the electrical power supply means 6 comprise one or more batteries, preferably of rechargeable type. In accordance with a possible embodiment of the footwear 1 according to the present invention, the electrical power supply means 6 comprise two rechargeable lithium batteries placed in series.

In particular, the electrical power supply means 6 are preferably housed in the sole 3. For such purpose, the sole 3 is in particular provided with one or more first seats 9 adapted to receive at their interior, preferably within the thickness of the sole 3 itself, the number of batteries necessary for the operation of the footwear 1.

Advantageously the first seats 9 are accessible from outside the footwear 1 by means of one or more first openings 11 obtained on the thickness of the sole 3 in order to allow a user to carry out an easy maintenance of the power supply means 6, i.e. for example to easily substitute the batteries or easily inspect the power supply means 6 arranged inside the first seats 9. Preferably, the first openings 11 are closed by a first removable door 12 adapted to protect the interior of the first seats 9 and the power supply means 6 arranged therein from external agents or from possible mechanical stresses. Preferably the walls which delimit the first seats 9, and in particular at least the walls directed towards the sole of the foot that wears the footwear 1 , are suitably thermally shielded in order to prevent the transmission of heat to the foot that wears the footwear 1 and to prevent causing discomfort to the patient during footwear 1 operation.

The electrical power supply means 6 advantageously further comprise an integrated battery charger (not illustrated), it too preferably housed in one of the first seats 9, adapted to allow the charging of the rechargeable batteries when the footwear 1 is connected to an external electrical energy source, advantageously constituted by the electrical power supply mains, as well as the operation of the footwear 1 with external power supply. The electrical power supply means 6 in such case also comprise a connector 10, in particular provided for on the sole 3, susceptible of being connected, by means of a suitable cable (not illustrated) to the external electrical energy source.

The above-described electrical power supply means 6 allow the patient to use the footwear 1 and to benefit from the magnetic fields produced thereby in any place, without it being necessary to connect the latter to an external electrical energy source in order to allow the operation thereof.

Of course, the footwear 1 can otherwise be adapted to function only by means of a mains connection, without departing from the protective scope defined by the present patent.

Each inductor 5, in a manner per se known to the man skilled in the art and hence not discussed in detail herein, is obtained in particular by means of a winding of an electric current conductor wire. The form of the inductor 5 is determined by the characteristics of the magnetic field that one wishes to generate, as well as by the shape and size of the sole 3 or the upper portion 4 in which the inductor 5 is housed. Advantageously, each inductor 5 comprises a coil having a number of turns dependent on the intensity of the magnetic induction that one wishes to generate.

In particular, the conductor wire can for example be made of copper or aluminum. In the latter case, since aluminum has a very high specific resistivity with respect to that of copper, it will be necessary to use a greater quantity of material in order to obtain similar magnetic fields, as can be inferred in the enclosed figures 4 and 5.

The advantage in using an aluminum wire - due to the smaller density of the latter with respect to other conductor materials, particularly copper - consists of obtaining a footwear article 1 with lower weight, since the coils made with an aluminum wire have a weight that is even 30% less than the weight of the coils made of copper, for example.

Advantageously, the coils associated with the sole 3 of the footwear 1 according to the present invention have maximum dimensions at least 0.5 cm less than those of the sole 3, in order to hit the entire sole of the foot that wears the footwear 1 with the magnetic field generated thereby, simultaneously minimizing the dispersed magnetic fields.

According to a possible embodiment of the footwear 1 according to the present invention illustrated for example in figure 2, the latter comprises a single coil associated with a median-frontal portion of the sole 3.

In particular the coil can in such case have a length comprised between 9-14 cm, considered along the longitudinal extension direction X of the sole 3, and a width comprised between 7-11 cm, considered along the transverse extension direction Y of the sole 3.

In accordance with the idea underlying the present invention, the footwear for magnetotherapy 1 further comprises an electronic circuit 13, which is mounted on the support structure 2 and comprises an electronic control unit 14, a module for controlling the electric current 15 and a communications module 16.

The electric current control module 15 is connected to the control unit 14 and is operatively associated with the inductor 5 in order to send, to the latter, an electric current controlled by the control unit 14. The communications module 16 is connected to the control unit 14 and is susceptible of receiving programming signals from a user.

The control unit 14 is adapted to receive, through the communications module 16, the programming signals relative to the characteristics of the magnetic field that the user wishes to employ for the therapy; the control unit is adapted to translate such programming signals into control signals relative to the operation parameters of the inductor 5 so that the latter generates a magnetic field having the desired characteristics.

Advantageously the control unit 14 comprises a microprocessor 18 adapted to process the programming signals that the control unit 14 receives through the communications module 16 and to convert them into control signals sent to the electric current control module 15, by means of which it drives the control module 15 to generate the controlled current intended to flow through the inductor 5 or the inductors 5.

The electric current control module 15 therefore produces a precisely controlled current that, by flowing through the inductor 5 (or the inductors 5), produces a magnetic field of the desired type (pulsed or continuous) and having desired characteristics, such as intensity, frequency, wave form and duration.

The control unit 14, and in particular the microprocessor 18, is adapted to set the value of the desired current, which can be regulated instant by instant, by driving the signal with analog intensity sent to the current control module 15.

Therefore, the footwear 1 according to the present invention is adapted to develop, by means of the inductor 5 or the inductors 5 arranged therein, a magnetic field having the desired characteristics. Such characteristics are in particular determined by the controlled electric current supplied by the electric current control module 15 to the inductors 5 themselves; such controlled current is in turn controlled by the control unit 14, and more particularly by the microprocessor 18, on the basis of the instructions provided to the latter by the user through the communications module 16.

More in detail, the latter can comprise a display arranged on the thickness of the sole 3 provided with drive buttons.

Preferably, in order to prevent the communications module 16 from being accidentally operated or from being easily damaged, the communications module 16 comprises an input/output data port 19 or a radio reception/transmission device and is adapted to exchange information with one or more remote units 17, receiving the programming signals from the latter as will be better explained hereinbelow.

The remote unit 17 can comprise a computer, a tablet or a smartphone provided with a suitable processing module, such as a software or an application, which allows the introduction by a user - i.e. by the patient himself or by the medical personnel who establish and/or follow the therapy prescribed to the patient - of the desired operation data for the footwear 1. In such a manner, the footwear 1 , when operated, is capable of generating, by means of the inductor 5 or the inductors 5 set therein, a magnetic field in accordance with the prescribed characteristics, thus administering a personalized therapy to the patient.

Such therapy can also be modified over time and/or adjusted as a function of the response of the patient by simply updating the instructions sent by the remote unit 17 to the control unit 14, or by sending new instructions thereto.

The footwear 1 for magnetotherapy according to the present invention therefore first allows the administration of a magnetic therapy for prolonged time periods to a patient, even for numerous consecutive or spaced hours in a same day, without however obliging the patient to go to the dedicated medical facilities and without requiring immobility during the administration of the magnetic therapy. The footwear 1 according to the present invention can indeed be worn by the patient during his normal daily activities.

In addition, the footwear 1 according to the present invention allows administering a personalized magnetic therapy to each single patient, since it is also possible to provide for the modification of the operating parameters of the inductor (or the inductors) 5 over time, and thus allow the administration over time of magnetic fields with different characteristics as a function of changed needs.

Advantageously, the electronic circuit 13 is also preferably housed in the sole 3. For such purpose, the sole 3 is in particular provided with one or more second seats 20, preferably a single second seat 20, adapted to receive, at the interior thereof, the components of the electronic circuit 13, preferably within the thickness of the sole 3 itself.

The second seat 20 is preferably accessible from outside the footwear 1 by means of a second opening 21 obtained on the thickness of the sole 3 in order to allow a user to carry out an easy maintenance of the electronic circuit. In particular, the second opening 21 is closed by a second removable door 22 adapted to protect the interior of the second seat 20 and the electronic circuit 13 arranged therein from external agents or from possible mechanical stresses.

The footwear 1 is preferably provided with an on/off button 23 connected to the control unit 14 and in particular to the microprocessor 18 in order to operate it or interrupt the functioning thereof.

The on/off button 23 is in particular preferably accessible from outside the second door 22 without it being necessary to remove the latter for activating or deactivating the operation of the footwear 1. The footwear 1 advantageously further comprises a sound signaling device 24, adapted to send audio alerts, for example when turning on or turning off.

A warning light (not illustrated) can be advantageously provided on the footwear 1 , in particular arranged on the thickness of the sole 3; when lit, such light indicates that the footwear 1 is found in operation mode and hence that the inductor 5 or the inductors 5 placed therein are generating a magnetic field with the desired characteristics.

As stated above, the communications module 16 advantageously comprises an input/output data port 19, such as a USB port, preferably arranged on the thickness of the sole 3, susceptible of being connected, by means of a suitable cable, to the remote unit 17 in order to exchange data with the latter.

Otherwise, the communications module 16 can for example comprise a radio reception/transmission device, such as a Bluetooth device, for exchanging data with the remote unit 17 without it being necessary to achieve a connection by means of cable between the footwear 1 and the remote unit 17.

As specified above, through the communications module 16 it is possible to set the control unit 14 and more in detail the microprocessor 18, by programming amplitude, duration and wave form of the current transmitted by the current control module 15 to the inductors 5 and consequently the characteristics of the magnetic fields generated by the inductors 5.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment of the footwear 1 according to the present invention, the control unit 14, and more particularly the microprocessor 18 of the latter, comprises a memory.

The microprocessor 18, due to the presence of the memory, is capable of storing the total operating time and the number of times the footwear 1 was turned on, such that it is possible to have a control of the therapy carried out by the patient and to monitor the progression thereof.

For such purpose, the control unit 14 further comprises a use counter, operatively associated with the memory in order to record in the latter the data relative to the use of the footwear for magnetotherapy 1.

Also forming the object of the present invention is an assembly 100 for carrying out magnetotherapy sessions on a foot; such assembly 100 comprises a footwear article for magnetotherapy 1 , in particular of the above-described type provided with a communications module 16 comprising an input/output data port 19 or a radio reception/transmission device; the same reference numbers will be maintained hereinbelow. The assembly 100 according to the invention comprises, in addition to the footwear 1 , also a processing module, adapted to be installed in the remote unit 17 and provided with a user interface by means of which the aforesaid programming signals are susceptible of being sent from a user to the communications module 16 of the control unit 14.

The processing module can in particular be constituted by a program adapted to be installed in a computer or an application adapted to be installed in a smartphone or in a tablet, due to which the patient, the doctor or the medical personnel who assist the patient in the magnetic therapy can set, through the user interface, the operation parameters of the footwear 1 and consequently of the inductors 5 comprised therein, so that the latter generate a magnetic field having the desired characteristics.

Of course, the user interface gives the user the possibility to easily reprogram the footwear 1 each time he deems it necessary, thus modifying the magnetic field generated by the footwear 1 as a function of the course of the pathology.

Operatively, after having sent the pre-established programming signals to the footwear 1 , by means of the processing module provided for in a remote unit 17 and by means of the communications module 16 placed on the footwear 1, the latter is placed in operation mode by the user, e.g. by means of an on/off button 23. A sound signal sent by the sound signaling device 24 can possibly alert the user that the turning on has been correctly executed. The microprocessor 18 will then provide to send the signal with analog intensity to the current control module 15, so that the latter supplies the inductor 5 or the inductors 5 with a suitable controlled current for the generation of the desired magnetic field.

In particular the microprocessor 18, by means of a pulse signal, is capable of interrupting the magnetic field for a brief time period, substantially achieving an energy savings with respect to the analog control. In addition, by means of a shutdown signal, the microprocessor 18 is capable of disabling the current control module 15 when the time in which there is no generation of magnetic fields is greater than a pre-established time interval, equal for example to several dozen seconds.

During the application of the magnetic therapy, the user can perform his normal daily activities. Once the pre-established magnetotherapy session has terminated, a sound signal may be sent by the sound signaling device 24 in order to inform the user that the therapy session has terminated, so that the latter can proceed to stop the operation of the footwear 1 by pressing the on/off button 23. Otherwise, the electronic control unit 14 can be instructed to cause the automatic turning off of the footwear 1 at the end of the pre-established magnetic stimulation period, hence without the user having to intervene for such purpose.

Preferably, the footwear 1 and the assembly 100 according to the present invention are employed for obtaining a magnetic field of pulsed type.

More in detail, the footwear 1 and the assembly 100 are advantageously employed for obtaining a low-frequency magnetic field, in particular having frequency less than 300 Hz and preferably less than 200 Hz.

Magnetotherapy making use of low-frequency magnetic fields has proven capable of interfering with the cellular membrane whose permeability is conditioned by ion exchanges, facilitating the elimination of metabolic waste, especially in water-rich tissues.

The footwear 1 and the assembly 100 according to the invention can for example be advantageously employed by people who perform activities that oblige them to be frequently on their feet or moving in order to relieve feet pain, by athletes in order to decrease the pathological effects of the sport on the plantar surface, such as plantar fasciitis, or by people affected with feet pain deriving from different pathological conditions, such as diabetic foot, dental occlusion pain or back pathologies that involve foot fatigue.

The footwear 1 can in particular be made in a personalized manner, as a function of the characteristics correlated with each single patient, such as the patient gait or the foot orientation during walking or running, as a function of the zones of the foot that one prefers to treat, and as a function of the characteristics of the therapy that one wishes to execute. In such a manner, for each patient, the number of inductors 5 that must be positioned in the footwear 1 can be advantageously established, along with the exact position of the same inductors 5 and their operation parameters that determine the duration, wave form and intensity of the magnetic field produced.

Since the effectiveness of the magnetotherapy is known to depend on the constancy of the applications, the footwear 1 and the assembly 100 for magnetotherapy according to the present invention allow a patient to be subjected to the magnetic therapy for prolonged time periods and with greater constancy, given that this can be completed during the course of the patient's normal daily work and even sport activities.

The finding thus conceived therefore attains the pre-established objects.

Of course, in the practical achievement thereof, such finding can also assume different forms and configurations from that illustrated above without departing from the present protective scope.

In addition, all details can be substituted with technically equivalent elements and kinematic mechanisms, and the size, shape and materials used can be of any type according to requirements.

Claims

1. Footwear for magnetotherapy, which comprises:

- a support structure (2) provided with a sole (3), susceptible of resting on the ground during the deambulation of the user who wears said footwear (1), and with an upper (4), connected to said sole (3);

- at least one inductor (5), mounted on said support structure (2);

- means (6) for supplying electrical power to at least said inductor (5), associated with said support structure (2);

characterized in that it further comprises an electronic circuit (13), which is mounted on said support structure (2) and comprises:

- a module for controlling the electric current (15) operatively associated with said inductor (5) and adapted to supply power to the latter with a controlled electric current susceptible of generating, by flowing in said inductor (5), a specific magnetic field;

- an electronic control unit (14) connected to said current control module

(15) in order to send control signals to the latter, and by means of such signals it drives said current control module (15) to send said controlled current to said inductor (5); and

- a communications module (16) connected to said control unit (14) and susceptible of receiving programming signals from a user, said programming signals containing operative parameters of said magnetic field that said user wishes to apply for the therapy.

2. Footwear for magnetotherapy according to claim 1, characterized in that said control unit (14) comprises a microprocessor (18) adapted to process said programming signals received from said communications module (16) and to convert them into said control signals sent to said electric current control module (15).

3. Footwear for magnetotherapy according to claim 2, characterized in that said electric current control module (15), driven by said microprocessor (18), is adapted to send said controlled current to said inductor (5), consequently modulating the frequency, the wave form and the duration of the magnetic field produced by said inductor (5).

4. Footwear for magnetotherapy according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said communications module (16) comprises an input/output data port (19) by means of which it is connectable to at least one remote unit (17), receiving said programming signals from said at least one remote unit (17).

5. Footwear for magnetotherapy according to any claim from 1 to 3, characterized in that said communications module (16) comprises a radio reception/transmission device by means of which it is adapted to exchange information with at least one remote unit (17) receiving said programming signals from said at least one remote unit (17).

6. Footwear for magnetotherapy according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said control unit (14) comprises a memory and a use counter, operatively associated with said memory in order to record in the latter the data relative to the use of said footwear for magnetotherapy (1).

7. Footwear for magnetotherapy according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said inductor (5) comprises at least one coil comprising a number of turns determined as a function of the maximum intensity of the magnetic field that one intends to generate.

8. Footwear for magnetotherapy according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said inductor (5) is associated with the sole (3) of said support structure (2)·

9. Footwear for magnetotherapy according to claim 8, characterized in that said support structure (2) comprises a support insole (7), preferably made of a rigid material, mounted on the upper part of said sole (3) and said inductor (5) is fixed to said support insole (7).

10. Assembly for magnetotherapy of the foot, characterized in that it comprises a footwear article for magnetotherapy (1) according to any preceding claim and a processing module, adapted to be installed in said remote unit (17) and provided with a user interface adapted to allow a user to insert and send said programming signals to said communications module (16) of said control unit (14).