PIEZOELECTRIC, MICRO-EXERCISE APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20110015555A1
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulse, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pulse, LLC
• Inventors: Xiao, David, Anderson, Gregory S., Burrell, Douglas R., Huntsman, Kade E., Gledhill, Dale C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0585 for the legs toe correcting devices A61F5/019
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for micro-exercise apply piezoelectric stress to cells of a bone mass by inducing voltages in the bone mass. Application of dynamic, electromagnetic fields passing through the conductive bone mass induce currents and voltages locally in and around cells or groups of cells. The cells respond to the combination of mechanical stress and strain by building themselves up as they would if they had been subjected to the stress and strain of conventional exercise. Thus, micro-exercise at a cellular level of the bone mass can be stimulated as if the stress and strain had been applied to the entire bone structure of which the smaller cellular portions are constituent parts. In combination with casts or splints, the sources of electromagnetic flux may be embedded in the frame or solid structure, the protective padding added for comfort, or both.

Claims

1. A method for micro-exercise of bone mass, the method comprising:

providing a frame substantially rigid and defining a first space sized to receive a bodily member of a human;

providing a plurality of coils spaced apart, embedded in the frame, and effective to pass electromagnetic flux into the first space;

providing a controller fixed to the frame and delivering power to the plurality of coils providing mechanical support to a battery by connecting the battery to the frame in rigid relation thereto;

connecting the battery electrically to the controller to provide power to the controller;

immobilizing the bodily member of a subject within the first space, the bodily member containing a broken bone integral thereto;

programming the controller to provide power to the plurality of coils in a first sequence;

controlling, by the controller, delivery of power to energize the plurality of coils;

delivering to each coil of the plurality of coils power in accordance with the programming of the controller; and

delivering, by the each coil, an electromagnetic flux into the first space proximate the each coil in accordance with the first sequence; and

exercising cells of the broken bone within the broken bone, in response to the electromagnetic flux while maintaining the broken bone immobile with respect to the first space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame is at least a portion of at least one of a splint and a cast.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cast comprises fasteners rendering the cast selectively removable and re-installable.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the cast is a boot cast.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the boot cast further comprises a walking pad.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the walking pad further comprises a witness element detecting walking.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the witness element is selected from a destructively modified surface responding to at least one of weighting and wear, a load detector, and a motion detector.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the witness element is a pedometer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing a first cycling of the power delivered to the each coil at a first frequency substantially continually during an active portion of a first time period.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first frequency is from about 50 to about 500 Hertz.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first frequency is selected to be from about 100 to about 300 Hertz.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the frequency is selected to be from about 150 to about 200 Hertz.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising executing a first halting of the first cycling for an inactive portion of the first time period.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a first repeating of the first cycling and first halting of the first time period throughout a first plurality of time periods, the first plurality of time periods constituting an active portion of the second time period.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a second halting of the first repeating for an inactive portion of the second time period.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising operating the controller to energize the plurality of coils for a total time of the first activated portions of the first cycling for a duty cycle, wherein the duty cycle is the sum of all the active portions of the first cycling occurring during the second time period, divided by the second time period.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the duty cycle is from about 0.003 to about 0.08.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

separating the coils of the plurality of coils into regions, each region comprising a corresponding, unique, and proper subset of less than all the coils of the plurality of coils; and

reducing interference between magnetic fields created by each coil of the plurality of coils by the first sequencing energizing all coils corresponding to each region substantially simultaneously by region and exclusive of all other regions.

19. A method for micro-exercise of bone mass, the method comprising:

providing a frame, selected from a splint and a selectively removable and replaceable cast, the frame being substantially rigid, defining a first space sized to receive a bodily member of a human, and having fasteners rendering the frame selectively removable and re-installable;

providing a plurality of coils spaced apart, embedded in the frame, and effective to pass electromagnetic flux into the first space;

providing a controller fixed to the frame and delivering power to the plurality of coils providing mechanical support to a battery by connecting the battery to the frame in rigid relation thereto;

connecting the battery electrically to the controller to provide power to the controller;

immobilizing the bodily member of a subject within the first space, the bodily member containing a broken bone integral thereto;

programming the controller to provide power to the plurality of coils in a first sequence;

controlling, by the controller, delivery of power to energize the plurality of coils;

delivering to each coil of the plurality of coils power in accordance with the programming of the controller; and

delivering, by the each coil, an electromagnetic flux into the first space proximate the each coil in accordance with the first sequence; and

exercising cells of the broken bone within the broken bone, in response to the electromagnetic flux while maintaining the broken bone immobile with respect to the first space;

the frame further formed to resemble the envelope of a boot, and comprising a witness element selected from a destructively modified surface responding to at least one of weighting and wear, a load detector, and a motion detector;

connecting the coils of the plurality of coils into regions, each region comprising a corresponding, unique, and proper subset of less than all the coils of the plurality of coils;

reducing interference between magnetic fields created by each coil of the plurality of coils by the first sequencing energizing all coils corresponding to each region substantially simultaneously by region and exclusive of all other regions;

executing a first cycling of the power delivered to the each region at a first frequency substantially continually during an active portion of a first time period;

executing a first halting of the first cycling for an inactive portion of the first time period;

executing a first repeating of the first cycling and first halting of the first time period throughout a first plurality of time periods, the first plurality of time periods constituting an active portion of a second time period;

executing a second halting of the first repeating for an inactive portion of the second time period; and

operating the controller to energize coils of the plurality of coils for a duty cycle of from about 0.003 to about 0.1, wherein the duty cycle is the sum of all the active portions of the first cycling occurring during the second time period, divided by the second time period.

20. An apparatus micro-exercising a broken bone, the apparatus comprising:

a frame substantially rigid and defining a first space sized to receive a bodily member of a human;

a plurality of coils spaced apart, embedded in the frame, and effective to pass electromagnetic flux into the first space;

a controller fixed to the frame and delivering power to the plurality of coils;

a battery;

mechanical supports connecting the battery to the frame in rigid relation thereto;

the battery electrically connected to the controller to provide power to the controller;

the frame further comprising securement members immobilizing a bodily member of a subject within the first space, the bodily member containing a broken bone integral thereto;

the controller further programmed to provide power to the plurality of coils in a first sequence to energize the plurality of coils;

the controller, further delivering to each coil of the plurality of coils power in accordance with the programming;

the each coil further delivering an electromagnetic flux into the first space proximate the each coil in accordance with the first sequence; and

the controller, further programmed and operable to exercise cells of the broken bone within the broken bone, in response to the electromagnetic flux, while the frame maintains the broken bone immobile with respect to the first space.