METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC INDUCTION THERAPY

• US 20090227831A1
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emkinetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emkinetics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hermanson, Christopher, Burnett, Daniel R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,430,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/13
• 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 magnetic induction therapy comprising:

at least one conductive coil disposed within or along a housing, where the at least one coil is configured to generate a magnetic field focused on a target nerve in proximity to the at least one coil;

at least one sensor configured to detect electrical conduction in the target nerve; and

a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, where the controller is adjustable to vary a current through the at least one coil so as to adjust the magnetic field focused upon the target nerve.

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

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional conductive coil disposed within or along the housing.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of the coils overlap relative to one another.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one coil is movable within or along the housing to reposition the magnetic field relative to the target nerve.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is comprised of a patch applied to a skin surface in proximity to the target nerve.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is adjustable independently of the at least one sensor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is adjustable via a user.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the user comprises a patient or physician.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to vary amplitude, frequency, direction of the magnetic field, or firing sequence of the at least on coil.

11. A method of magnetic induction therapy, comprising:

positioning a first portion of a patient'"'"'s body relative to a housing such that a target nerve within the first portion of the body is in proximity to at least one conductive coil disposed within or along the housing;

passing a current through the at least one coil to generate a magnetic field focused on the target nerve;

detecting electrical conduction through the target nerve via at least one sensor positioned along a second portion of the body in proximity to the target nerve;

receiving a signal from the at least one sensor indicative of the electrical conduction; and

adjusting the current via a controller in communication with the at least one conductive coil.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein positioning comprises placing a foot, ankle, or leg relative to the housing.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein passing a current comprises passing the current through a plurality of coils to generate the magnetic field.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting comprises detecting the electrical conduction along the second portion of the body which is different from the first portion of the body.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein adjusting comprises adjusting an amplitude, frequency, direction of the magnetic field, or firing sequence of the at least on coil.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a position of the at least one coil relative to the first portion of the patient body to re-focus the magnetic field on the target nerve.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein adjusting comprises varying the current according to a muscular response in the patient.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein adjusting comprises manually adjusting the current by a patient or physician.