PAIN MANAGEMENT BIO-MEDICAL UNIT

• US 20110077675A1
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: ROFOUGARAN, AHMADREZA (REZA)
• Application Number:
  US12/848,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, a processing module, and a pain management functional module. The power harvesting module converts an electromagnetic signal into a supply voltage, wherein the bio-medical unit is operable within a host body. The processing module determines an acupuncture point of the host body and a treatment duration. The processing module then generates a control signal based on the acupuncture point and the treatment duration. The pain management functional module receives the control signal and actuates a needling of the acupuncture point in accordance with the control signal.

Claims

1. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to convert an electromagnetic signal into a supply voltage, wherein the bio-medical unit is operable within a host body;

a processing module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

determine an acupuncture point of the host body;

determine a treatment duration; and

generate a control signal based on the acupuncture point and the treatment duration; and

a pain management functional module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive the control signal; and

actuate a needling of the acupuncture point in accordance with the control signal.

2. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

a communication module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive a wireless communication signal from an external communication device;

convert the wireless communication signal into a baseband or near-baseband signal; and

provide the baseband or near-baseband signal to the processing module; and

the processing module is further operable to;

convert the baseband or near-baseband signal into a pain treatment command; and

determine at least one of the acupuncture point and the treatment duration based on the pain treatment command.

3. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

the processing module operable to;

determine a second acupuncture point of the host body;

determine a second treatment duration; and

generate a second control signal based on the second acupuncture point and second the treatment duration; and

a second pain management functional module operable to;

receive the second control signal; and

actuate a needling of the second acupuncture point in accordance with the second control signal.

4. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the pain management functional module comprises:

an actuator module; and

a needle probe, wherein the actuator module applies a force to the needle probe in accordance with the control signal such that the needle probe provides the needling of the acupuncture point.

5. The bio-medical unit of claim 4, wherein the pain management function module further comprises:

a cleaning module operable to clean the needle probe after the needling of the acupuncture point.

6. The bio-medical unit of claim 4, wherein the pain management module further comprises:

a high-voltage generator operable to;

generate an electrotherapy signal from the supply voltage; and

transmit the electrotherapy signal via the needle probe.

7. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to convert an electromagnetic signal into a supply voltage;

a processing module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

determine a body point for application of pain treatment;

determine a pain treatment duration;

generate a control signal based on the body point and the pain treatment duration;

a pain management functional module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive the control signal;

generate an electrotherapy signal in accordance with the control signal; and

direct the electrotherapy signal at the body point.

8. The bio-medical unit of claim 7 further comprises:

a communication module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive a wireless communication signal from an external communication device;

convert the wireless communication signal into a baseband or near-baseband signal; and

provide the baseband or near-baseband signal to the processing module; and

the processing module is further operable to;

convert the baseband or near-baseband signal into a pain treatment command; and

determine at least one of the body point and the treatment duration based on the pain treatment command.

9. The bio-medical unit of claim 7, wherein the pain management functional module comprises:

an actuator module;

a needle probe, wherein the actuator module applies a force on the needle probe to position the needle probe proximal to the body point; and

a high-voltage generator operable to;

generate the electrotherapy signal from the supply voltage; and

transmit the electrotherapy signal via the needle probe to the body point.

10. The bio-medical unit of claim 9, wherein the pain management function module further comprises:

a cleaning module operable to clean the needle probe.

11. The bio-medical unit of claim 7, wherein the pain management module further comprises:

an amplitude modulation module operable to generate an amplitude modulation signal based on the control signal;

an oscillator operable to generate an oscillation;

a power amplifier operable to amply the oscillation in accordance with the amplitude modulation signal to produce the electrotherapy signal; and

an antenna operable to transmit the electrotherapy signal at the body point.

12. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to convert an electromagnetic signal into a supply voltage;

a processing module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

determine a body point for application of pain treatment;

determine a pain treatment duration;

generate a control signal based on the body point and the pain treatment duration;

a pain management functional module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive the control signal;

generate a laser signal in accordance with the control signal; and

direct the laser signal at the body point.

13. The bio-medical unit of claim 12 further comprises:

a communication module powered by the supply voltage and operable to;

receive a wireless communication signal from an external communication device;

convert the wireless communication signal into a baseband or near-baseband signal; and

provide the baseband or near-baseband signal to the processing module; and

the processing module is further operable to;

convert the baseband or near-baseband signal into a pain treatment command; and

determine at least one of the body point and the treatment duration based on the pain treatment command.

14. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the pain management module further comprises:

an oscillator operable to generate an oscillation in accordance with the control signal;

a light emitting module operable to generate the laser signal from the oscillation.

15. The bio-medical unit of claim 14, wherein the pain management module further comprises:

an amplifier module operable to amplify the oscillation in accordance with the control signal to set intensity of the laser signal.

16. The bio-medical unit of claim 14 further comprises:

the processing module further operable to generate the control signal to vary frequency of the oscillation to set penetration of the laser signal.