GB2390027A

GB2390027A - Therapeutic device

Info

Publication number: GB2390027A
Application number: GB0300146A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Rory Orr
Original assignee: QUANTUM TECHNIKS Ltd
Current assignee: QUANTUM TECHNIKS Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-25
Filing date: 2003-01-03
Publication date: 2003-12-31
Also published as: GB0300146D0; GB0214588D0

Abstract

A therapeutic device that uses magnetic fields for relieving pain and other conditions. The device includes means for producing electrical signals and a coil that is constructed and arranged to generate a magnetic field in response to energisation by the electrical signals, wherein the means for producing the electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce wave forms that include decaying pulses. The device is preferably a portable hand-held applicator comprising a body 1 enclosing battery power supply, and electrical circuitry 9 , the body terminated by end caps 3, 11. The body has an indicator light 7 and switch 5.

Description

Therapeutic device The present invention relates to therapeutic devices,

and in particular to therapeutic devices that use magnetic fields for the treatment of human and animal bodies.

5 Human and animal bodies are typically treated using drugs, invasive surgery and applied therapies such as physiotherapy. Such treatments can have side effects, be traumatic and costly. It has been discovered that magnetic fields can be used to treat human or animal

bodies. In particular, an approach known as Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy (PMFT) is

L nown in the art for relieving pain.

10 PMFT is the application of magnetic fields to an area of a human or animal body that is

suffering from, for example acute or chronic pain, wherein the magnetic field strength is

varied over a period of time in a controlled manner. Since the magnetic field is constantly

changing it interacts with the body by inducing small electrical currents in the body's tissue in the regions affected by the magnetic field.

15 Most existing devices for implementing PMFT use pulses of direct current to stimulate an electromagnet or coil to generate an electromagnetic field. Typically the frequency of the

pulses is between 0.5 and 15Hz which is thought to be in accordance with natural frequencies ofthe human body. Some other devices that use a mains electricity supply that have an oscillation frequency in the range:0-60Hz.

20 Whilst the above devices provide some therapeutic effect by reducing pain, the magnetic fields generated by such devices are not optimised.

Accordingly the present invention seeks to provide an improved therapeutic device that is constructed and arranged to produce magnetic fields that provide an improved therapeutic

effect by, for example, alleviating pain more effectively.

2j According to one aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a therapeutic device that includes means for producing electrical signals and a coil that is constructed and an anged to generate a magnetic field in response to energisation by the electrical signals, wherein

the means for producing the electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce wave forms that include decaying pulses.

The therapeutic device can be used to treat human and animal bodies in particular to reduce the effects of pain. In operation the device is used to produce a varying magnetic field in

5 the vicinity of the area of the body under treatment such that the magnetic field extends into

the body to stimulate localised tissue.

Advantageously the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce pulses that decay exponentially.

Advantageously the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to 10 produce pulses that have a duration in the range I to 5 milliseconds, and preferably a duration of approximately 3 milliseconds.

Advantageously the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce n number of pulses per second, wherein n is in the range 0.5 to 10, and n is preferably 1.25 pulses per second.

15 Advantageously the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce wave forms having a frequency in the range I SKHz to 30KHz, and preferably having a frequency of approximately 23KHz.

Advantageously the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce wave forms having peak voltages in the range j to 20 volts.

20 Advantageously the magnetic field generated has a field strength in the range 5 to 1 j mT,

and is preferably approximately 10 mT.

Preferably the therapeutic device is constructed and arranged to be a handheld device that is powered by at least one electrical cell and includes a direct current to alternating current converter. 25 An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate equivalent features, wherein:

Figure l is an exploded general arrangement of an embodiment of a therapeutic device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows an example of a wave form used to excite a coil to produce a varying magnetic field; and

5 Figure 3 shows the wave forth of Figure 2 on a smaller scaled time axis.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a therapeutic device in accordance with the current invention that includes a body 1, a first end cap 3, an on / off switch 5, an indicator light 7, electronic circuitry 9 and a second end cap 11.

The therapeutic device is a portable hand-held device having a mass of around 80 grams, l 0 a length of 193mm, aminimum diameter of 17mm and amaximum diameter of28mm. The body I is made from an aluminium alloy tubing and has an internal cavity arranged to accommodate two electric cells. At one end of the body 1 the cavity includes an internal screw thread. The first end cap 3 is also made from an aluninium alloy and includes an external screw thread 13 that is complementary to the internal screw thread of the body 1.

15 The first end cap 3 can be removed frown the body l to provide access to the cells located therein. The electronic circuitry 9 is located in the internal cavity at the other end of the body I. The second end cap l l screws Onto the body to protect the electronic circuitry. The second end cap 11 is made from nylon 66 because it is substantially inert. That is, the second end cap 20 11 does not react with the user's skin if the end cap 11 is brought into contact with the user's body, for example, during treatment.

The electronic circuitry 9 includes a direct current to alternating current (DC to AC) converter and a coil for generating an alternating magnetic field. The DC to AC converter

is used to convert direct current from the cells into an alternating current having the desired 2: wave form. The alternating current is used to energise the coil which generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field generated radiates outwards from the coil through the second end

cap 11, and varies according to the w eve form stimulating the coil.

Optionally, the coil may include a core made from a ferrous material such as iron or steel.

The wave form of the electrical signals that energise the coil includes exponentially decaying pulses. Typically, the wave form has a pulse frequency in the range 0.5 to 1 0tIz, a peak voltage in the range 5 to 20V, a pulse length in the range I to 5 milliseconds and an oscillation frequency in the range 15KHz to 30KHz. Figures 2 and 3 show the 5 characteristics of a single pulse of a preferred wave fond. The wave forth has an oscillation frequency of 23KHz, a +12V peak voltage, a pulse length of 3 milliseconds and a pulse frequency of 1.25 Hz.

The indicator light 7 is arranged to be illuminated when the device is activated.

In use, a user positions the device such that the second end cap I 1 is a few millimetres from 10 the first area of the human / animal body to be treated. The device is preferably held adjacent exposed flesh but alternatively treatment can take place through light clothing. The user then energises the coil by switching the device on, causing a magnetic field to radiate

from the coil into the body and stimulate the tissue in the localised area. The user slowly sweeps the device over the painful area maintaining the device a few nillimetres away front I 5 the body. Because the magnetic f eld is constantly changing in a controlled and predictable way it induces electrical currents in the tissue. After a short period a subtle dragging effect is felt by the user. The effect has been described by users as 'a pulling sensation like dull toothache ', "a slight pricking sensation', ' a pleasant warming or cooling sensation", sensations running' to other parts of the body" and "deqi-like effects remarkably similar 20 to needling".

After the "dragging" effect diminishes or if the recipient is no longer aware of treatment effects the user moves the device to a second, or subsequent, area ofthe body that requires treatnnent. The process should be repeated until all areas of the body, requiring treatment have been so treated. In most instances the user is advised to treat a particular area for no 25 longer than three minutes.

It has been found that treatment Neolith the therapeutic device for only a few minutes a week can significantly relieve pain for many ailments. In particular, use ofthe therapeutic device has been found to relieve conditions such as arthritis (RA & OA), acute soft tissue injury, postherpetic neuralgia, coccydvnia, amputation pain, chronic back pain, headache, 30 migraine, dental pain, dysineilorrlloea, heel pain, and dermatitis. This list is not exhaustive.

The most recent clinical trials suggest that PMFT induces one or more of the following effects to alleviate pain: vasodilatation, analgesia, antiinflanmatory effect, spasmolytic effect, healing acceleration and oedema reduction. However, the effects of PMF on human and animal bodies is not fully understood at this time and therefore the invention is not to 5 be construed as being limited to any one, or any combination, of the above effects.

Use of the device can be combined with other pain relieving techniques such as acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy. Knowledge of acupuncture points and techniques is not essential for obtaining pain reliefLowever clinical experience suggests that superior results are frequently obtained when treatment includes 10 the use of appropriate local and distant acupoint stimulation.

The device can be used exclusively for pain management, or it may be used as an alternative to needling (or other forms of stimulation) of acupoints when pain management is not the focus of treatment.

It will be appreciated that alterations can be made to the embodiment described above I j without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, a wave form can be used that has a different rate of decay, a longer / shorter pulse length, a higher / lower frequency of pulses or a higher / lower peak voltage.

Also, a larger non-portable therapeutic device, for example for whole body treatment, can be constructed and arranged to operate on the same principles as the portable device 20 described herein.

Claims

Claims

A therapeutic device that includes means for producing electrical signals and a coil that is constructed and ananged to generate a magnetic field in response to

energisation by the electrical si gnals, wherein the means for producing the electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce wave forms that include decaying pulses.
2. A therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce pulses that decay exponentially.
3. A therapeutic device according to claims] or 2, wherein the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce pulses that have a duration in the range 1 to 5 milliseconds, and preferably a duration of approximately 3 milliseconds.
4. A therapeutic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce n number of pulses per second, wherein n is in the range 0.5 to 10, and n is preferably 1.25 pulses per second.
5. A therapeutic device according to arty one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce wave forms having a frequency in the range 15KHz to 30KHz, and preferably having a frequency of approximately 23KHz.
6. A therapeutic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for producing electrical signals is constructed and arranged to produce wave forms having peak voltages in the range j to 20 volts.
7. A therapeutic device according to any one of the preceding claims, Wherein the magnetic field generated has a field strength in the range j to 15 mT, and is

preferably approximately l O mT.
8. A therapeutic device according to any one of the preceding claims that is constructed and arranged to be a handheld device.
9. A therapeutic device according to any one of the preceding claims, that is powered by at least one electrical cell and includes a direct current to alternating current converter.
10. A therapeutic device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.