METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC INDUCTION THERAPY

• US 20090227829A1
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Emkinetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emkinetics, Inc.
• Inventors: BURNETT, Daniel R., HERMANSON, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/469,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20090227829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An energy emitting apparatus for providing a medical therapy includes one or more energy generators, a logic controller electrically connected to the one or more energy generators, and one or more sensors for detecting electric conduction in a target nerve that are connected to the logic controller. The one or more energy generators produce energy focused on the target nerve upon receiving a signal from the logic controller, and the energy is varied by the logic controller according to an input provided by the one or more sensors. In one embodiment, the energy emitting apparatus is an apparatus for magnetic induction therapy that includes one or more conductive coils disposed in an ergonomic housing that produce a magnetic field focused on the target nerve upon receiving an electric current from the logic controller based on an input provided by the one or more sensors.

Claims

1. A system for powering an implantable nerve stimulation device, comprising:

a nerve stimulation device configured for implantation within a patient body in proximity to a target nerve;

one or more receiving coils configured for implantation within the body and in electrical communication with the nerve stimulation device;

an applicator having one or more transmitting coils positionable external to the body; and

one or more sensors in communication with the one or more transmitting coils, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to indicate relative positioning between the one or more receiving coils and the one or more transmitting coils when placed in proximity to one another.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more receiving coils are configured to generate an electrical current via inductance from the one or more transmitting coils when placed in proximity thereto.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect magnetic resistance encountered by the one or more transmitting coils corresponding to a degree of magnetic coupling between the transmitting coils and receiving coils.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more transmitting coils are electrically adjustable to magnetically couple the transmitting coils to the one or more receiving coils.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the nerve stimulation device is controllable via adjustment of a power level transmitted between the one or more transmitting coils and receiving coils.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an implantable sensor coupled to the one or more receiving coils and configured to wirelessly communicate to the applicator a degree of magnetic coupling between the one or more receiving coils and transmitting coils.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors are configured to terminate magnetic coupling between the one or more transmitting coils and receiving coils after charging of the nerve stimulation device is completed.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the applicator comprises a flexible wrap, a cradle, or a garment.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the applicator comprises an electrical pulse controller.

10. A method of inductively coupling an implantable nerve stimulation device, comprising:

implanting a nerve stimulation device within a target region of a patient body in proximity to a target nerve, the device having one or more receiving coils in electrical communication therewith;

positioning an applicator having one or more transmitting coils external to the body and in proximity to the one or more implanted receiving coils,

passing a current through the one or more transmitting coils such that the transmitting coils are magnetically coupled to the implanted receiving coils whereby power is inductively transmitted therebetween; and

detecting a magnetic resistance via one or more sensors encountered by the one or more transmitting coils from the one or more receiving coils and adjusting the current accordingly.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein implanting comprises implanting the nerve stimulation device in an ankle or leg of the patient body.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein positioning comprises positioning a flexible wrap, cradle, or garment in adjacent to the target region.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein passing comprises passing the current via an electrical pulse controller.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein detecting comprises detecting the resistance via the one or more sensors in communication with the one or more transmitting coils.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein detecting comprises detecting the resistance via the one or more sensors in communication with the one or more receiving coils.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising terminating a magnetic coupling between the one or more transmitting coils and receiving coils after charging of the nerve stimulation device is completed.