MXPA99006763A

MXPA99006763A - Magnetic therapy

Info

Publication number: MXPA99006763A
Application number: MXPA/A/1999/006763A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Nagler Yovanka
Original assignee: Magno Therapy Inc; Nagler Yovanka
Priority date: 1997-01-20
Filing date: 1999-07-20
Publication date: 2000-06-01

Abstract

This invention is a magnetic therapy method and apparatus (1) useful for the treatment and prevention of painful joint or muscle conditions, preferably using magnets (4) at two or more body locations, and preferably using a combination of at least one band magnet (2a-2c) and a discrete magnet (4) attached thereto.

Description

MAGNETIC THERAPY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method for treating or preventing painful muscular or joint conditions by the use of magnetic therapy, and to an apparatus for the treatment of said painful muscular or joint conditions. Pain in muscles and joints is a common problem suffered at some point by a vast majority of people. The pain can be caused either by diseases such as arthritis, or by subjecting the body to stress and strain through various physical activities. One of the painful conditions that result from applying abnormal efforts to the body is the so-called "arm edema" commonly suffered by mountain bikers or mountain race drivers. This originates from the vibrations caused by rough terrain, which are transmitted by the handlebar of a motorcycle to the arms of the driver. The symptoms of arm edema are swollen forearms that become exceptionally hard to the touch and painful, sometimes even causing loss of control of the wrists and hands. The area of the most affected arm is the carpal tunnel, which is a fibrous bridge that spans the small bones at the base of the palpa of the hand. The friction in the carpal tunnel creates pressure on the middle nerve causing numbness, tingling, pain and weakness, and even loss of control of the entire arm and hand. Although arm edema is treatable, a prophylactic method to prevent its occurrence would obviously be more desirable. As a result of the failure of conventional medicine to effectively treat certain medical conditions such as those described above, there is an increasing tendency to explore the paths of alternative medicine. One of these alternative practices is the use of magnetic therapy. Although it is not completely clear how magnetic therapy works, it has been found to increase blood flow and therefore oxygen carrying capacity, change the migration of calcium ions to or from the bone, alter the pH balance of various fluids of the body, alters the production of hormones of endocrine glands and alters the enzymatic activity and other biochemical processes of the human body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a method and apparatus for treating painful muscular and joint conditions. Specifically, the invention provides an apparatus comprising a magnetic strip having at least one discrete rare earth magnet attached thereto.

The invention also provides an apparatus for treating painful muscular or joint conditions, comprising at least two magnetic strips which can be placed on an affected limb in an axially spaced configuration, each magnetic stripe being adapted to circumscribe the affected limb. This invention also provides a method for treating painful muscular or joint conditions, comprising circumscribing a part of the affected body with at least two magnetic strips in axially spaced configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 shown during use on the arm of a user. Figure 3 is a preferred embodiment of the invention, which incorporates bags for the retention of discrete magnets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is applicable to a wide variety of painful muscular or joint conditions such as arthritis, muscle cramps, swollen joints and arm edema. The method of the present invention provides for the treatment of muscle or joint pain by circumscribing a part of the affected body with at least two magnetic bands in an axially spaced configuration. This method is particularly applicable to extremities and is especially useful in the treatment of arm conditions such as arm edema, circumscribing an affected arm with three magnetic bands. The first magnetic stripe is placed around the wearer's wrist, and the second and third strips are placed, respectively, around the wearer's arm on the proximal and distal sides of the elbow joint. The method of the present invention preferably includes placing discrete magnets at specific points of the affected body part. For example, in the treatment of arm edema, a discrete magnet can be placed so that it is on the user's carpal tunnel region, the second and third discrete magnets can be placed on the user's inner forearm below the elbow joint , and a fourth discrete magnet can be placed on the user's lower biceps just above the elbow joint.

The set of magnetic strips preferably includes three magnetic strips. Each magnetic strip is preferably prepared from a flexible rectangular member having major and minor axes. The major axis of the flexible rectangular member must be long enough to circumscribe the affected part of the body. The rectangular member is preferably made of a thin strip of strontium and barium bonded with polymer, and it is especially preferred that the thin sheet be impregnated with an isotropic ferrite magnet. In general, the isotropic magnet has a magnetic force of approximately 12,000 and 16,000 gauss, preferably around 14,000 gauss, an energy product of approximately 0.3 and 0.4 mega-oiled, preferably around 0.36 mega-oiled, and a coercive force of approximately 1 1000 to 12000, preferably around 11500. More preferred features of the invention include at least one rare earth magnet attached to each flexible rectangular member. Rare earth magnets that can be used include neodymium-iron-boron magnets coated with nickel. These rare earth magnets should have a magnetic force of about 1 1000 and 12500 gauss, preferably around 1600 to 12300 gauss. The rare earth magnets preferably have a coercive force of about 10,500 to 1,000, preferably about 10,800 to 1,300. The rare earth magnets preferably have an energy product of about 30 and 40 mega-tensiles, preferably about 32 and 35 mega-oersteds. The rare earth magnets are preferably adhesively bonded to the flexible rectangular member, but other joining means that will be apparent to the skilled designer can be used. Other features of the invention that are also preferred include enclosing each magnetic stripe of the set in a textile cover, and each cover being clamped around the affected part of the body by means of a fastener, preferably a hook and stack fastener. The present invention provides an apparatus comprising at least two magnetic strips, each band is capable of circumscribing an affected body part and being fixed to the affected body part in an axially spaced configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a set of three magnetic strips. In that case, a first magnetic strip of the set is clamped around the wrist of a user, and the second and third bands of the set are clamped, respectively, around the user's arm on opposite sides of the elbow joint. The second and third bands can be connected together by a connector element. When used, the connector element is preferably an elastomeric fiber strip. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a magnetic strip having at least one discrete rare earth magnet attached thereto. The magnetic strip is capable of being attached to an affected part of the body. In a preferred embodiment, a rare earth magnet on a first magnetic strip can be placed directly on the user's carpal tunnel when the first band is clamped around the wearer's wrist during use. Two rare earth magnets can preferably be provided on the second band, which can be fastened below the user's elbow joint, such that the two rare earth magnets can be placed on the user's inner forearm when the second band is fastened around the user's arm during use. A rare earth magnet may preferably be provided on the third band, and placed directly on the lower biceps of the user when the third band is clamped around the user's arm during use. Although this modality will be described with particular reference to the prevention and treatment of arm edema, the use of the invention is not limited to this application. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in which similar features of the invention are indicated by the same numerals, an apparatus for treating painful muscular and joint conditions is generally indicated with reference number 1. As shown in FIG. the figures, the apparatus 1 includes a set of three elongated magnetic strips 2a, 2b and 2c. Each magnetic strip includes a rectangular and flexible member or strip 3a, 3b and 3c having major and minor axes. The major axis of each flexible and rectangular member is long enough to circumscribe a limb of a user thereof, such as an arm or a leg. The rectangular members 3a, 3b and 3c are made from a variety of materials exhibiting the desired combination of flexibility and magnetic strength. Preferred materials include strontium thin sheet and polymer bonded barium, which is impregnated with an isotropic ferrite magnet. The isotropic magnet has a force of about 12000 to 16000 gauss with an energy product of between 0.3 and 0.4 mega-oersteds and a coercive force of about 11000 to 12000. Rare earth magnets 4 are attached to each flexible rectangular member 3a, 3b and 3c. The rare earth magnets 4 can be nickel-coated neodymium-iron-boron magnets having a magnetic force of about 1 1000 to 12500 gauss with a coercive force of about 10 500 to 1000 and an energy product of about 20 to 30. mega-oersteds. The rare earth magnets 4 can be adhesively bonded to the flexible rectangular members 3a, 3b and 3c. The first two magnetic strips 2a and 2b include an individual rare earth magnet 4, while the third band 2c incorporates two rare earth magnets 4 in a separate configuration. Each magnetic strip 2a, 2b and 2c in the equipment is enclosed in a respective textile cover 5a, 5b and 5c. The textile cover can be made of any fabric that is comfortable to the human touch. Each cover 5a, 5b and 5c incorporates a preferred hook and stack fastener 6 to allow the magnetic strip to be fastened around the user's arm. The longer magnetic strips 2b and 2c in the equipment are connected to each other by a transverse strip of elastomeric fabric which is sewn to the respective textile covers 3b and 3c of the magnetic strips.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 3, the rare earth magnets 4 can be fixed to each flexible rectangular member by the use of bags 7 sewn into the textile covers 5 enclosing the magnetic strips. Several bags can be sewn into each textile cover, so that the positions of the rare earth magnets can be easily changed to modify the treatment of the affected body part. During use, the set of magnetic strips 1 is fastened around a user's arm, as illustrated in Figure 2. The shortest band of the magnetic strips 2a is fastened around the wearer's wrist, so that the magnet of rare earth 4 of this magnetic stripe is located directly above the carpal tunnel of the user. The transversely connected magnetic strips 2b and 2c are respectively located around the user's arm on opposite sides of the elbow joint, as indicated. The second and third magnetic strips are located so that, during use, the two rare earth magnets in the second magnetic stripe are located in the inner forearm of the user, while the rare rare earth magnet in the third magnetic stripe 2b is located directly on the user's lower biceps. A corresponding series of magnetic strips 2a, 2b and 2c can be fastened analogously to the other arm of the user. It has been found that the use of magnetic strips as described above, by mountain bikers or mountain race drivers, prevents the onset of the condition known as arm edema.

In addition, it has been found that the series of magnetic strips 1 promotes the rapid recovery of people already suffering from arm edema. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications are possible to this embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the strength of the magnetic thin sheet and the number of rare earth magnets in each magnetic strip 2a, 2b and 2c can be altered or varied to suit the needs of a particular application. The apparatus can also be conveniently applied to avoid or treat other conditions such as arthritis and muscle cramps. In addition, the apparatus can be used in other parts of the body of a user, such as the legs of the same to treat problems of the knees.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. An apparatus for treating muscle or joint pain, characterized in that it comprises a magnetic strip having at least one discrete rare earth magnet fixed to it, the magnetic strip being clamped to an affected part of the body.

2. The apparatus for treating muscle or joint pain, further characterized by comprising at least two magnetic bands, each magnetic band being able to circumscribe the affected extremity, and being fixed to a part of the affected body in an axially separated configuration .

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further characterized in that each magnetic strip comprises a flexible rectangular member having major and minor axes, the major axis being of such length to circumscribe the affected extremity, the rectangular members comprising strontium attached with polymer covered by a thin barium sheet, and the thin barium sheet being impregnated with an isotropic ferrite magnet.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further characterized in that the isotropic ferrite magnets are characterized by a magnetic force of approximately 12,000 to 16,000 gauss.

5. - The apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in that the magnetic force of the sotropic ferrite magnet is approximately 14,000 gauss.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, further characterized in that the isotropic ferrite magnets are characterized by an energy product of about 0.3 to 0.4 mega-oileds.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further characterized in that the isotropic ferrite magnets are characterized by an energy product of approximately 0.36 mega-oileds.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, further characterized in that the isotropic ferrite magnets are characterized by a coercive force of approximately 11,000 to 12,000.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further characterized in that the isotropic ferrite magnets are characterized by a coercive force of approximately 11,500.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3, further characterized in that it further comprises at least one rare earth magnet fixed to each flexible rectangular member, the rare earth magnets characterized by a magnetic force of about 1 1, 000 to 12,500 Gauss, a coercive force of approximately 10,500 to 1 1, 300, and an energy product of approximately 30 to 40 mega-oersteds. 1.

The apparatus according to claim 10, further characterized in that the rare earth magnets comprise nickel-coated neodymium-boron characterized by a magnetic force of about 1 1, 600 to 12,300 gauss, a coercive force of about 10,800 to 1 1, 300, and an energy product of approximately 32 to 35 mega-oersteds.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further characterized in that the rare earth magnets are adhesively bonded to the flexible rectangular members.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, further characterized in that it further comprises a flexible cover that encloses each magnetic strip, each cover having securing means to secure the cover around the affected part of the body.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further characterized in that the fastening means is a hook and stack fastener.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, further characterized in that it also comprises means for connecting the second and third magnetic strips.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, further characterized in that the connecting means comprise an elastomeric fabric strip.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, further characterized in that a first magnetic stripe is fastened around the wrist of the user., a second magnetic stripe is fastened below the elbow joint thereof, and a third magnetic stripe is fastened above the articulation of the user's elbow.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, further characterized in that a first rare earth magnet is adhered to the first magnetic strip, so that the first rare earth magnet is placed over the carpal tunnel region of the wrist, the second and third rare earth magnets are adhered to the second magnetic strip, so that the second and third rare earth magnets are placeable on the inner forearm region, and a fourth rare earth magnet is adhered to the third magnetic member 1 , so that the fourth rare earth magnet can be placed over the lower biceps region.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, further characterized in that it further comprises at least one bag stitched in at least one of the textile covers, the bag (at least one) capable of receiving and containing at least one rare earth magnet, the rare earth magnet (at least one) characterized by a magnetic force of approximately 1 1000 to 12500 gauss, a coercive force of approximately 10500 to 1 1300, and an energy product of approximately 30 to 40 mega -oersteds

20. A method for treating muscle or joint pain, characterized in that it comprises circumscribing an affected part of the body with at least two magnetic bands in an axially separated configuration.

21. - The method according to claim 20, further characterized in that the affected body part is an arm, and wherein the method further comprises circumscribing the arm with at least three magnetic strips, wherein a first magnetic stripe is located around a wrist, and the second and third magnetic bands are located on the proximal and distal sides of the elbow joint.

22. The method according to claim 21, further characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: a) placing a first discrete magnet on the first magnetic strip on the region of the carpal tunnel; b) placing the second and third discrete magnets on the second magnetic strip on the inner forearm; and c) placing a fourth discrete magnet on the third magnetic strip on the lower biceps.