Apparatus For Generating Electric Current Field In The Human Body And Method For The Use Thereof

• US 20070282156A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UMC Utrecht Holding B.V.
• Original Assignee: UMC Utrecht Holding B.V.
• Inventors: Konings, Maurits
• Application Number:
  US11/629,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating an electrical current field in the human body, comprising two or more rotatable magnetic elements for generating of a composite magnetic field, which magnetic elements are positioned such that each magnetic element is rotatable around an axis of rotation; means for producing a rotating motion of the magnetic elements such that upon rotation of one or more of the magnetic elements the composite magnetic field remains substantially constant; and means for disturbing the composite magnetic field, for altering the magnetic field entirely.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating an electrical current field in the human body, comprising:

two or more rotatable magnetic elements for generating of a composite magnetic field, which magnetic elements are positioned such that each magnetic element is rotatable around an axis of rotation;

means for producing a rotating motion of the magnetic elements such that upon rotation of one or more of the magnetic elements the composite magnetic field remains substantially constant; and

means for disturbing the composite magnetic field, for altering the magnetic field entirely.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field which is generated by a magnetic element, is cylindrical symmetrical around an axis of symmetry.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axis of symmetry of the magnetic field produced by a rotating magnetic element coincides with the axis of rotation of that rotating magnetic element.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic elements contain an electromagnet, a permanent magnet and/or magnetizable material.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more magnetic elements consist of magnetizable material which is magnetized by the vicinity of a non-rotating electromagnet, permanent magnet and/or object of magnetizable material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disturbing means comprise polarity reverse means to change polarity with a reversed frequency of one or more magnetic elements.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reverse polarity mean comprise an electrical switching devise which reverses the direction of the current flowing through the coil of an electromagnet.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation means comprise air thrust.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation means comprise high frequency oscillations.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation means comprise an electric motor.

11. The apparatus field according to claim 1, wherein the rotation frequency has a larger value than the reverse polarity frequency.

12. The apparatus field according to claim 1, wherein the polarity reversal frequency is lower than 3000 Hz.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the polarity reversal frequency is lower than 1000 Hz.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet element has air bearings.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more magnetic elements are composed of a number of oblong, beam-shaped small objects of magnetizable material, in which the shape of each of these objects is such that its size (length) in one particular direction is at least three times as large as the size (width) in another direction.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more magnetic elements consist of a composition of small objects of magnetizable material, one or more of these small objects showing anisotropical magnetizable properties.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic elements comprise a large number of relatively small wheels or discs of magnetizable material, which wheels or discs are rotated at a speed of more than 100.000 rpm.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, incorporated in a bed for patients or a backpack, wherein the apparatus is arranged close to the human skin, the electric current field being directed into or near the spine, more preferably inside the dorsal root ganglia, wherein the electrical charge for muscle tissue at one side of the spine flows into the muscle tissue at the other side of the spine, without inducing charge flow at or near the skin.

19. A method for generating of an electrical current field using an apparatus according to claim 1.

20. A method for selective neurostimulation using a device according to claim 1.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the electrical current field is directed into pain centers of shingles.