Magnetic pulsing system for inducing electric currents in a human body

• US 20070142886A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aruene Corporation
• Original Assignee: Neuralieve, LLC (Aruene Corporation)
• Inventors: Ma, Emily, Pless, Benjamin, Fischell, Scott, Fischell, David, Fischell, Robert, Vondle, Dave, Chang, Kuen
• Granted Patent: US 8,262,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/103
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed is a means and method for the treatment of migraine headaches and other disorders of the human body by the application of one or more intense magnetic pulses. By placing an intense magnetic field pulse(s) onto a certain region of the brain, an electrical current can be generated in the cerebral cortex that can stop a migraine headache in some patients or at least decrease its severity. The device to perform this function can be called a “magnetic pulser system.” This system can be made in one piece and powered by plugging into a household or automobile receptacle or from a battery. The pulser system uses capacitors that are first charged to a high voltage and then discharged into a coil that creates the intense magnetic pulse. Both visual and auditory signals can be provided by the pulser system to assist the patient in using the device.

Claims

1. A portable magnetic pulser system for the treatment of migraine headaches of a human subject, the system including:

an electrical power source for operating the system;

electronic circuitry for taking power from the electrical power source and creating a comparatively high voltage for charging capacitors;

control circuitry that is capable of charging the capacitors and then dumping the charge into a magnetic coil that is used to create an intense magnetic pulse onto the brain of the human subject, the charging of the capacitors and the subsequent discharge of the capacitors into the magnetic coil being controlled by at least one electrical switch that is operated by the patient, the maximum intensity of the magnetic pulse delivered onto the brain of the human subject being between 0.05 and 5 Tesla.

2. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where the electrical power source is selected from the group consisting of a household receptacle, the cigarette lighter receptacle in a car, a rechargeable battery or a replaceable battery.

3. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where the capacitors are charged to the comparatively high voltage that lies between 300 and 800 volts.

4. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where the weight of the magnetic pulser is less than 4 pounds.

5. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where the magnetic coil is made from Litz wire.

6. The magnetic pulser system of claim 5 where the Litz wire has a square or rectangular cross section.

7. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where the metal of the magnetic coil is aluminum.

8. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 including means for indicating the extent to which the capacitors are charged.

9. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where there is an audio signal that indicates that the capacitors are fully charged and are ready to be discharged into the magnetic coil.

10. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where there is an audio signal indicating that the magnetic pulse has been delivered.

11. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where there is an audio signal indicating that the magnetic pulser system is not operating properly.

12. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where there is an indicator light that turns on when the capacitors are ready to be discharged into the magnetic coil.

13. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 including means to limit the number of pulses that the patient could apply.

14. The magnetic pulser system of claim 13 including a means to indicate the number of pulses remaining for the patient'"'"'s use.

15. The magnetic pulser system of claim 13 including means for refilling the number of pulses remaining for the patient'"'"'s use.

16. The magnetic pulser system of claim 13 where the means for refilling is accomplished over a telephone line from a patient'"'"'s service center.

17. The magnetic pulser system of claim 13 where the means for refilling is accomplished using a USB key.

18. The magnetic pulser system of claim 17 where the USB key can have the number of pulses to be added made available through the USB port of a computer that is in contact over the Internet with a patient'"'"'s service center.

19. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 where the shape of the magnetic coil is generally elliptical.

20. The magnetic pulser system of claim 19 where the magnetic coil is situated in a magnetic coil section having a bottom surface that is curved to suit the curvature of a typical human head.

21. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 also including means for determining that the amplitude and time course of the magnetic pulse is within a defined specification.

22. The magnetic pulser system of claim 1 also including means for date and time stamping of each magnetic pulse that is triggered, the data being stored in a digital memory of the magnetic pulser system.

23. A method for the treatment of a migraine headache by a human patient, the method including the following steps:

a) procuring by the patient of a magnetic pulser system that is capable of delivering at least one magnetic pulse onto the patient'"'"'s brain, the magnetic pulse having a maximum magnetic field intensity that lies between 0.05 and 5.0 Tesla;

b) sensing by the patient when a migraine headache has occurred or will occur;

c) charging of capacitors in the magnetic pulser system to a high enough voltage to generate the desired magnetic pulse, the charging being initiated by the patient;

d) having the patient place a magnetic coil which is part of the magnetic pulser system onto a region in close proximity to the patient'"'"'s brain;

e) having the patient trigger the capacitors to discharge into the magnetic coil to provide the desired magnetic pulse into the patient'"'"'s brain.

24. A method for the treatment of a disorder of a human patient, the method including the following steps:

a) procuring by the patient of a magnetic pulser system that is capable of delivering magnetic pulses having a maximum magnetic field intensity that lies between 0.05 and 5.0 Tesla;

b) sensing by the patient when an illness occurs;

c) having the patient initiate the charging of capacitors in the magnetic pulser system to a high enough voltage to generate one or more of the desired magnetic pulses;

d) placing by the patient of the magnetic coil onto a region in close proximity to that organ of the patient that is to be treated with the one or more magnetic pulses;

e) triggering by the patient of the capacitors to discharge into the magnetic coil to provide the desired one or more magnetic pulses.