WO2008014902A1

WO2008014902A1 - Portable device for generating a magnetic field for magnetic field therapy

Info

Publication number: WO2008014902A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/006501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hermann Dertinger
Original assignee: Physiomed Services Gmbh
Priority date: 2006-08-04
Filing date: 2007-07-21
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: RU2009101814A; CA2660083A1; MX2009000565A; EP2046447A1; DE102006036417A1; CN101511427A

Abstract

The portable device (1) is intended to be used to generate a magnetic alternating field for magnetic field therapy. Said device comprises at least one permanent magnet (5) and a mechanical drive (6) by means of which the at least one permanent magnet (5) can be made to move in a cyclical manner. The at least one permanent magnet (5) and the drive (6) are designed such that the magnetic alternating field which is generated by the cyclical movement of the at least one permanent magnet (5) has a single frequency.

Description

Portable device for generating a magnetic field for magnetic field therapy

The invention relates to a portable device for generating a magnetic alternating field see magnetic therapy.

Electromagnetic therapy devices are known in which the generated electromagnetic fields cause a systemic, nonspecific and supportive healing effect. For example, promotion of metabolism or blood circulation can be achieved with the known devices. However, these devices usually only allow the treatment of a relatively large body part and work with relatively weak fields. A targeted treatment of small diseased body areas with enough strong fields, which also exert therapeutic effects on functionally disordered individual cells, on the other hand, with the known devices is not possible.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device of the type described, which is suitable for a targeted treatment of smaller body areas.

To solve this problem, a device according to the features of claim 1 is given. The device according to the invention comprises at least one permanent magnet and a mechanical drive, by means of which the at least one permanent magnet in a cyclic

Movement is displaceable, wherein the at least one permanent magnet and the drive are designed so that the generated by the cyclical movement of the at least one permanent magnet magnetic alternating field is monofrequent. The magnetic alternating field which can be generated by the device according to the invention is therapeutically effective. Due to its limitation to, in particular, a single frequency, it is particularly suitable for cellular treatment. Thus, a therapeutic effect is achieved on preferably individual cells, in particular on functionally disordered cells due to illness. It was recognized that the cellular therapy effects are highly frequency dependent. In particular, they only take place within very narrow frequency windows. Therefore, the device according to the invention generates a largely monofrequent magnetic alternating field as the therapeutically effective field, which therefore has, in particular, a sinusoidal time characteristic and is preferably harmonic-free.

According to the law of induction, the monofrequency magnetic alternating field thus produced in the tissue and in particular on the cell to be treated produces a likewise monofrequent alternating electric field which can act directly on cells by interfering with the cellular signal transduction. Thus, the cell differentiation and the immunological behavior of cells can be influenced in terms of functional normalization and regeneration. Thus, tailor-made electromagnetic therapies for certain diseases are possible, which may be caused by impaired cell function with e.g. concomitant inflammation caused. Examples of such now treatable diseases are disturbed wound healing and inflammatory skin diseases called.

A generated by the device according to the invention and in particular in the low frequency range lying alternating magnetic field can thus be very well used for therapeutic purposes. The magnetic Self-elders induce electric fields whose field strengths are preferably above thresholds for cell biological differentiation and regeneration processes as well as immunological effects. Accordingly, the magnetic field strength or magnetic flux density preferably also exceeds corresponding thresholds. The magnetic field therapy with alternating magnetic fields is used in particular in inflammatory processes and underlying disturbed cell functions, for metabolic promotion, circulation increase and pain attenuation, bone and joint inflammation, for accelerated healing of wounds and ulcers, as well as in neurological diseases such as polyneuropathies and neurogenic diseases.

The device according to the invention is preferably designed such that when the device is placed on the surface of a body to be treated, the magnetic flux density produced by the device within a certain depth of the tissue exceeds the thresholds required for cell biological processes.

It has been found that magnetic flux densities in the milli-Tesla range which are sufficiently strong in the tissue and cause electric fields in the tissue which exceed the thresholds mentioned above are advantageously used for producing sufficiently strong alternating magnetic fields can. The latter offer considerable space advantages over the electric coils that are also suitable for magnetic field generation. Coils designed for high electrical currents are voluminous. A possibly required high number of turns additionally increases the space requirement. The movement provided in the device according to the invention In contrast, permanent magnets require significantly less space, so that they can be better accommodated in a portable device with only limited installation volume.

Permanent magnets of e.g. Only two cubic centimeters of volume can generate magnetic flux densities of several hundred milli-Tesla at their poles, which are given by applying a body even in several centimeters, such as four centimeters depth sufficient magnetic flux density of a few milli-Tesla by the at Movement sufficient electric field strengths are generated, which overcome the mentioned electrical effect thresholds.

With the same effect, ie in the provision of an alternating magnetic field, which is particularly strong enough for overcoming the effect thresholds given in the tissue, can be by means of moving

Permanent magnets realize a considerably more compact and lighter device than by means of electrically operated coils.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one permanent magnet is moved linearly or cyclically linear. A superimposition of cyclic circular path and linear movements is also possible. Particularly favorable is the embodiment in which the at least one permanent magnet is displaceable in a circular movement.

While the device according to the invention may in principle have only one permanent magnet, so that the maximum flux density caused by the permanent magnet fluctuates during movements thereof at one point of action, in a preferred embodiment at least two, in particular four or eight, permanent magnets provided. In this case, the flux density can be reversed and thus the flux density difference compared to the use of the same polarized permanent magnet can be doubled. Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that adjacent permanent magnets are arranged such that they are not aligned in their effective direction (connecting direction of the north and south pole). Adjacent permanent magnets can be aligned in particular with different, in particular opposite effective direction (connection from north to south pole). While the permanent magnets can basically be polarized in the radial direction, ie, the connecting line is directed radially from the north to the south pole, a preferred embodiment provides that the permanent magnets are polarized in the axis-parallel direction. The permanent magnets are designed as flat plates of a few millimeters thickness and polarized in the thickness direction, ie Plattenunter- and plate top represent the two poles dar. This has the advantage that the magnetic field is more effective in the tissue depth, as in a longitudinal polarization of permanent magnets. The arrangement with such four alternating sector magnets, modified according to the thickness polarization, leads to the fact that almost perfect sinusoidal oscillations of the magnetic flux density occur in the tissue. The disk with the four permanent magnets generates two full sine waves per revolution. That is, at a given or desired flux density monofrequency, the disk must rotate at half the frequency (ie, Ups).

By placing more than four sectors on the disk, a higher flux density monofrequency is produced per revolution. If one chooses other forms of magnet than circle-segment or sector-shaped (eg rectangles), then occur because of the different tangential speeds between the disc edge and the center in the generated alternating magnetic field in addition to the fundamental harmonic also the same, which may be quite interesting for certain therapeutic applications.

The shape of the permanent magnets can be different. The permanent magnets can be cuboid or cylindrical. In particular, when they are arranged on a circular disk, a preferred embodiment provides that they are formed in the shape of a sector of a sector. Particularly favorable is a variant in which the at least one permanent magnet has the shape of a circular sector or a circular ring sector. An approximated circle sector shape is present if the tip of the circular sector, for example for manufacturing reasons, has been omitted in the central area. By means of circular (ring) sector-shaped permanent magnets, the desired monofrequency of the alternating magnetic field can be generated particularly well.

The same advantages are obtained if at least two, in particular four or eight, circular sector-shaped or annular sector-shaped permanent magnets are provided and distributed uniformly on a circular base in their circumferential direction. Furthermore, in the circumferential direction, adjacent permanent magnets are preferably arranged with opposite polarity (i.e., with opposite magnetic direction of action) on the circular base. For the generation of a mono-frequency as possible magnetic

Alternating field, it is also advantageous if preferably between two circumferentially adjacent to each other arranged permanent magnets each have a blank empty segment with approximately the same Kreissektorform or Kreisringsektorform as that of the permanent magnets is seen. The empty segments then have essentially the same surface geometry, ie the same surface shape and the same surface area as the permanent magnets.

Preferably, it is also provided that the at least one permanent magnet at its magnetic poles has a magnetic flux density of more than 10 mT and less than 2000 mT, in particular of about 1400 mT. This ensures that the induced electrical fields in the tissue and cells are large enough to exceed the thresholds of action. With the appropriately sized permanent magnets, the flux density of the inducing magnetic field is at least 2 milli-Tesla (mT) at the actual site of action within the tissue. For example, in the case of a cellular defect in a joint, this site of action is approximately 3 cm tissue depth.

The imprint of the cyclic movement of the permanent magnets is preferably carried out by an electric motor, in particular a DC motor. As a result, the movement required to generate the alternating fields can be effected with little energy input. As a power source, a battery, a battery or a connection for an external power supply can be provided. Preferably, a transmission is provided between a permanent carrier or the supporting movable carrier, such as a rotatably mounted disc and the driving motor, whereby a predetermined rotational speed of the electric motor by a suitable gear ratio causes a revolution frequency and thus a desired change frequency of the magnetic field can be. In order to achieve the least possible or even completely complete mutual interference between the rotating permanent magnets and the preferably also based on an (electro) magnetic action principle drive, it is further preferably provided to space the drive and the at least one permanent magnet at least as far from each other in that a drive magnetic field produced by the drive has a magnetic flux density at the location of the at least one permanent magnet which is smaller by a factor of one hundred thousand (= 10 ⁵ ) than the magnetic flux density of the at least one permanent magnet at its magnetic poles. A distance chosen in this way is also advantageous with regard to the generation of a therapeutically effective, that is, as monotonically as possible, alternating magnetic field.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that at least two cyclically movable permanent magnets each housed in a separate magnet housing and each by means of a flexible holder, such as. a gooseneck, are connected to a central housing, wherein in the central housing in particular the common control electronics and the common power supply are housed. In addition to the permanent magnet, each magnet housing also accommodates in particular the rotating mounting plate for the permanent magnet, the light barrier and the motor drive for the plate. With this preferred embodiment, larger body areas can be treated with magnetic alternating fields in a simple manner.

Preferred embodiments of the method provide that the flux density frequencies are changed continuously or discontinuously, wherein in particular the flux density frequencies with a partial cycle time of less than minutes, preferably from 0.5 to 2.5 minutes. The total cycle time is equal to the sum of the partial cycle times. Preferably, the total cycle time is at most 10 minutes. A preferred value of the total cycle time is 2.5 minutes. For example, the flux density frequencies may be changed between 4 and 12 Hz, such as intermittently as flux density monofrequencies from 4 to 6, 8, 10 Hz to 12 Hz, and more particularly back to 4 Hz. In each case, essentially monofrequency field conditions are present at any one time. The flux density then has in each case only a single frequency component, which lies at the respective respective flux density monoferrence. With appropriate programming of the control processor, tailor-made treatment sequences or cycles can be generated for different therapy applications.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the therapeutically effective alternating magnetic field produced has a flow density monofilament which can be set in the range between 5 Hz and 25 Hz. In this low-frequency range, many cells are particularly susceptible to a therapeutic electromagnetic influence. Thus, flux density monofrequencies of, in particular, about 6 Hz stimulate e.g. the formation and release of biochemical mediators important for wound healing.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the drive is connected to a control unit and the control unit is designed to stabilize a particular specifiable flux density monofrequency of the generated alternating magnetic field. By means of this speed or frequency stabilization is monitored and ensured if necessary by an appropriate Nachsteuerung that the generated magnetic field change is actually formed as monofrequent as possible. The control unit and the drive driven by it are also designed to generate the alternating magnetic field in succession and in each case for a specific partial cycle time duration with a flow density monofrequency different in each case from the preceding partial cycle time duration. The already mentioned favorable treatment sequences or cycles can be realized very easily. For targeted cell treatment, the partial cycle time should preferably be at least 30 seconds since the cell takes about 7 to 10 seconds to adjust to the flux density. When operating with only a single flux density monofrequency, the subcycle period is equal to the total cycle time (eg, preferably about 2.5 minutes). If the partial cycle time duration lies in particular in the range between 30 seconds and 2.5 minutes, advantageously no habituation effect of the cell on the respective flow density monofrequency occurs. Such a habituation effect can be expected to increase, in particular, from a partial cycle duration of 10 minutes or more. The cellular treatment efficiency decreases when a longer partial cycle time is provided.

The invention and its advantageous embodiments have been described above with reference to a device according to the invention. However, the invention also relates to a method for generating an alternating magnetic field for magnetic field therapy, which has substantially the same features and advantages as the device according to the invention. The inventive method can be carried out for example with the device according to the invention. For the inventive method can also specify advantageous embodiments that essentially correspond to those of the device according to the invention. Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description, are explained in the exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings in detail. Showing:

1 shows an embodiment of a portable device for generating strong therapeutic alternating fields in a schematic representation,

2 is a equipped with permanent magnets carrier of the device of FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section along III-III of Fig. 2, and

4 shows a block diagram of an electronic device of the device according to FIG. 1.

Corresponding parts are provided in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1, an embodiment of a portable device 1 for generating strong therapeutically active alternating fields is shown. The schematic representation of FIG. 1 is limited to the essential features. In the embodiment shown, the device 1 has a housing 2 in which a support 4 which is in the form of a disk is rotatably mounted about an axis A. The storage takes place by means of a in Fig. 1 only indicated smooth bearing 3, such as a ball bearing. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the support 4 has four annular-sector-shaped permanent magnets 5, which are distributed uniformly on the support 4 at angles of 90 ° to one another and in the circumferential direction of the support 4. are orders. The circular sector shape of the permanent magnets 5 is determined in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by an outer diameter D _A of about 6 cm and by an inner diameter Di of about 1 cm. The lying in the center and determined by the inner diameter D ₁ recess serves to receive the axis A. The permanent magnets 5 have a thickness of about 6 mm.

The polarity of adjacent in the circumferential direction of the circular disk-shaped carrier 4 permanent magnets 5 is opposite to each other, wherein the absolute direction of the magnetic north-south polarization of the permanent magnets 5 respectively in the thickness direction of the plate-shaped permanent magnets 5 and thus parallel to the direction of the axis A. The arranged in the illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2 above and below permanent magnets 5 have their respective magnetic south pole respectively on the visible upper side, whereas the other two, so arranged in Fig. 1 and 2 laterally left and right, permanent magnets 5 their respective magnetic north pole respectively at the visible top. The magnetic orientation of tangentially adjacent permanent magnets 5 thus alternates. Tangentially adjacent permanent magnets 5 do not directly adjoin one another. Between them, a blank empty segment 5 a is provided in each case, which has approximately the same geometric shape, ie circle (ring) sector shape, and the same dimensions as the permanent magnets 5. Due to this geometry and the arrangement of the permanent magnets 5 and the empty segments 5 a, a magnetic alternating field is generated with uniform rotational movement of the carrier 4, which is substantially monofrequent. Its magnetic flux density then has only one single flux density monofrequency. The alternating magnetic field thus generated has a nearly constant perfect sinusoidal shape and is virtually harmonic free. It can thus be used particularly well for the treatment of individual cells.

The carrier 4 carrying the permanent magnets 5 is driven by an electric motor 6, specifically via a geared connection 7, which in the illustrated embodiment is a drive belt. This engages on the one hand on a pinion 6a of the electric motor 6, on the other hand on a provided with a circumferential groove, fixedly connected to the carrier 4 disc 4a. Due to the geared connection 7, a lateral or radial distance d can be provided between the outer circumferential line of the rotating permanent magnets 5 and the driving electric motor 6. The latter is advantageously large enough to largely exclude mutual magnetic interference. Depending on the application and the concrete design of the portable device 1, the values for the distance d are a few cm, preferably between 1 cm and 3 cm.

The electric motor 6 is preferably a DC motor, which is supplied with electrical energy by batteries or accumulators which are arranged in a corresponding compartment 8.

The circular disk-shaped carrier 4 has on its outer circumference a plurality of radial slots 4b, to which a light barrier 9 fixed to the housing is assigned.

An only schematically indicated in Fig. L control electronics 10a of the device 1 is located on a circuit board 10th The voltage of the electric motor 6 is in the lower voltage range of 24 V or less, preferably only 3 V. The power consumption is accordingly in the lower watt range, preferably less than one watt, in the specific embodiment at about 0.4 W. The rotational frequency of the carrier is in the lower Hertz range, preferably below 100 Hz and in particular at 2 to 6 Hz, so that the four permanent magnets 5 in the illustrated arrangement with alternating magnetic orientation (= polarity) results in a doubling of the frequency of the magnetic effective field to 4 to 12 Hz ,

The magnetic field strength of the permanent magnets 5 is located at their poles on the Plattenober- or -Unterseite in the Tesla range or below and should not be significantly more than 300 milli-Tesla, preferably at most 250 milli-Tesla (mT) on the outside of the housing 2 , In the exemplary embodiment, the permanent magnets 5 consist of a sintered and after the sintering magnetized NdFeB material. For sintering, for example, the powdery starting material is introduced into a sintered mold, which gives the permanent magnet 5 to be produced the desired sector-annular shape. After magnetization, the magnetic flux density at the top and bottom of the permanent magnets 5 thus produced is about 1400 mT.

The weight of a device 1 according to the invention is less than 500 g, preferably in the range of about 200 g.

In Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the equipped with annulus-shaped permanent magnet 5 carrier 4 is shown, for reasons of clarity, the provided for driving the carrier 4 disc 4a is omitted. In addition, only the center of A is central axis, around which the rotational movement takes place, indicated. According to the sectional illustration shown in FIG. 3, the permanent magnets 5 are preferably arranged in corresponding recesses of the carrier 4 and fixed there.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the control electronics 10a of the device 1 according to the invention.

There is a power supply 11, such as a battery or a battery, which provides a voltage U across ground M. The provided in the control electronics 10a at various locations connections to the maximum or standard voltage U and the mass M are characterized in the block diagram throughout with the same symbols.

The speed of the electric motor 6 is controlled in the manner described above by a programmable microcontroller 12, which is clocked by a quartz oscillator 12 a, and by means of an electronic switch 13. Also, the driving power of the electric motor 6 is supplied from the power supply 11. The microcontroller 12 monitors and controls the rotational movement of the carrier 4 caused by the electric motor 6. It performs a speed and frequency stabilization and thus a corresponding control to ensure that the magnetic alternating field generated is as monofrequent as possible.

For monitoring and optionally readjusting the rotational speed of the electric motor 6 and / or especially of the carrier 4, an optical speed detection with the aforementioned light barrier 9 is provided, which transfers its measured values to the microcontroller 12. For a detected deviation from the currently given setpoint speed causes the microcontroller 12 then a corresponding correction of the rotational speed of the electric motor. 6

The switching on and off of the device 1 via an actuatable switch 14. Furthermore, the circuit has both an optical output 15 and an acoustic output 16, with the example, the switching on and / or the operational readiness of the device 1 and the termination of a B. Acting process can be output visually and / or acoustically. In particular, the optical output 15 may be formed as a light-emitting diode, which flashes during the entire operation.

The microcontroller 12 is connected to an interface 17, via which the microcontroller 12 can be programmed.

Claims

claims

1. A portable device for generating an alternating magnetic field for magnetic therapy comprising a) at least one permanent magnet (5) and b) a mechanical drive (6), by means of which the at least one permanent magnet (5) is displaceable in a cyclic movement, c) wherein the at least one permanent magnet (5) and the drive (6) are designed so that the magnetic alternating field generated by the cyclical movement of the at least one permanent magnet (5) is monofrequent.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one permanent magnet (5) is displaceable in a circular movement.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one permanent magnet (5) has the shape of a circular sector or a circular ring sector.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two, in particular four or eight, circular sector-shaped or annular sector-shaped permanent magnets (5) are provided which are arranged evenly distributed on a circular base surface (4) in its circumferential direction.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that in the circumferential direction adjacent to each other arranged permanent magnets (5) are arranged with opposite polarity on the circular base (4).

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that between two in the circumferential direction adjacent to each other arranged permanent magnets (5) each have a blank empty segment (5a) with approximately the same Kreissektorform or Kreisringsektorform as that of the permanent magnets (5) is provided.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the generated therapeutically effective alternating magnetic field has a range between 5 Hz and 25 Hz adjustable Flußdichteemonofrequenz.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive to a control unit (10 a) is connected and the control unit (10 a) for stabilizing a Flußdichteemonofrequenz the generated alternating magnetic field is designed.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the control unit (10a) and the driven by her drive (6) are adapted to the alternating magnetic field sequentially and each for a certain part cycle time duration with each of the previous part cycle time different Flußdichtemonofrequenz to create.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one permanent magnet (5) has at its magnetic poles a magnetic flux density of more than 10 mT and less than 2000 mT, in particular of about 1400 mT.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive and the at least one permanent magnet (5) are at least as far apart that a drive from the drive (6) caused drive magnetic field at the location of the at least one permanent magnet (5) has a magnetic flux density which is smaller by a factor of one hundred thousand than the magnetic flux density of the at least one permanent magnet (5) at its magnetic poles.