Method for treating degenerative disc disease using noninvasive capacitively coupled electrical stimulation device

• US 20060030895A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EBI LLC (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EBI LLC (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Simon, Bruce J., Gan, Jean C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

A method for treatment of degenerative disc disease using capacitively coupled electrical stimulation. In one embodiment, a subject diagnosed as having degenerative disc disease is treated by placing first and second electrodes on the subject'"'"'s body at the site of an identified disc in a state of degenerative disc disease, and applying an electric field to the identified disc via the first and second electrodes with the intent to treat the degenerative disc disease. The electric field is created with an electrical signal having a frequency within a range of 20 to 100 kHz and having a symmetrical waveform with an amplitude within a range of 0.1 to 20 volts peak-to-peak, preferably a frequency of approximately 60 kHz and an amplitude of approximately 5 volts peak-to-peak.

Claims

1. A method of treating degenerative disc disease, comprising:

identifying a disc in a state of degenerative disc disease in a subject; and

indicating the use of capacitively coupled electrical stimulation for treatment of the identified disc, the indicated electrical stimulation characterized by an electric field created with an electrical signal having a frequency within a range of 20 to 100 kHz and having a symmetrical waveform with an amplitude within a range of 0.1 to 20 volts peak-to-peak.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical signal has a frequency of approximately 60 kHz and an amplitude of approximately 5 volts peak-to-peak.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrical signal is a sine wave.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrical signal is a bipolar DC signal with a square waveform.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrical signal is a bipolar DC signal with a triangular waveform.

6. A method of treating degenerative disc disease, comprising:

placing first and second electrodes on the body of a subject at the site of an identified disc in a state of degenerative disc disease; and

applying an electric field to said disc via said first and second electrodes with the intent to treat the degenerative disc disease.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said electric field is created by supplying a voltage across said electrodes at a frequency within a range of 20 to 100 kHz and an amplitude within a range of 0.1 to 20 volts peak-to-peak.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said frequency is approximately 60 kHz and said amplitude is approximately 5 volts peak-to-peak.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said voltage is sinusoidal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said voltage is a square wave.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said voltage is a triangular wave.