CONTROLLER AND FLEXIBLE COILS FOR ADMINISTERING THERAPY, SUCH AS FOR CANCER THERAPY

• US 20160030761A1
• Filed: 03/15/2014
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nativis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nativis, Inc.
• Inventors: Butters, John T., Butters, Bennett M., Ammerman, Mike, Conway, Scott, Fish, Robert, Nathanson, Jared, Oberkramer, Kevin, March, Andrew, Hood, Larry, Kukulka, Kathryn
• Granted Patent: US 10,046,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• 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 2250/00 Specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/004 specially adapted for a specific therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 37/005 Measurement methods not based on established scientific theories

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing a portable magnetic field therapy system for treatment of diseases and adverse health conditions, such as cancer.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for generating electromagnetic signals to provide treatment for mammalian aliments, the apparatus comprising:

an electromagnetic transducer portion having a connector, a signal output portion, and a lead coupling the connector with the signal output portion,

wherein the connector includes identification circuitry, and

wherein the signal output portion includes a wire coil having multiple windings; and

a signal generator comprising—

a port configured to receive the connector of the electromagnetic transducer;

an amplifier coupled to the port;

first memory for storing a low-frequency, time-domain therapeutic signal,

wherein the stored therapeutic signal is obtained from a drug sample, and

wherein the stored therapeutic signal has a frequency range between 1 Hz to 22 kHz;

at least one processor communicatively coupled among the amplifier and first memory;

a battery coupled among the amplifier, the first memory and the processor, and

a housing for carrying the amplifier, the first memory, the processor and the battery,

wherein the processor is programmed to provide the stored therapeutic signal for amplification by the amplifier and delivery to the electromagnetic transducer when—

the connector is received within the port, and

the processor receives information obtained from the identification circuitry; and

wherein the electromagnetic transducer produces a magnetic field signal in response to the stored therapeutic signal to provide treatment to a mammalian patient at a location proximate to the signal output portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stored therapeutic signal is generated by:

providing the drug sample within an electromagnetic shielding structure and proximate to at least one superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) or magnetometer;

placing the drug sample in a container having both magnetic and electromagnetic shielding, wherein the drug sample acts as a signal source for molecular signals;

injecting noise into the drug sample in the absence of another signal from another signal source at a noise amplitude sufficient to generate stochastic resonance,

wherein the noise has a substantially uniform amplitude over multiple frequencies;

detecting, via the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) or magnetometer, output radiation from the drug sample and recording an electromagnetic time-domain signal composed of drug sample source radiation superimposed on the injected noise in the absence of the another generated signal; and

,

repeating the injecting and detecting at each of multiple noise levels within a selected noise-level range until the drug sample source radiation is distinguishable over the injected noise.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a visual display device coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to provide signals to the display device for providing at least two of:

a status of a countdown timer, a status of the battery, a status of the electromagnetic transducer portion, and an identification of the stored therapeutic signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first memory is nonvolatile memory, wherein the apparatus includes a second memory coupled to the processor, wherein the second memory is volatile memory, wherein the stored therapeutic signal is stored in an encrypted format within the first memory, and wherein the processor is further programmed to:

perform a security check;

when the security check succeeds, decrypting the stored therapeutic signal;

storing the decrypted therapeutic signal in the second memory;

initiating a timer; and

,

when the timer expires or reaches a threshold, erasing at least the decrypted therapeutic signal stored in the second memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic transducer portion is one of several different electromagnetic transducer portions each having different sized signal output portions to be used for providing magnetic field signals to different sized areas, respectively,

wherein the identification circuitry provides information related to a size of the signal output portion, and

wherein the processor provides an amplitude adjustment signal to the amplifier based on the information obtained from the identification circuitry.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification circuitry and the processor communicate via a 1-wire protocol, and wherein the processor provides an amplitude adjustment signal to the amplifier based on the information obtained from the identification circuitry.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor performs an electromagnetic transducer impedance or resistance check before providing the stored therapeutic signal to the amplifier.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification circuitry stores a unique identifier or security key, and the processor performs a security check based on the unique identifier or security key before providing the stored therapeutic signal to the amplifier.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal to the processor indicating a tampering with the housing or the signal generator, and in response thereto, the processor erases the stored therapeutic signal.

10. A method for providing a signal to induce an effect of a chemical or biochemical agent to a mammalian patient, wherein the mammalian patient is capable of being responsive to the agent, the method comprising:

providing a portable system having an electromagnetic transducer portion connected to a signal generator portion,

wherein the signal generator portion includes a stored therapeutic signal obtained from a sample of the chemical or biochemical agent,

wherein the stored therapeutic signal is within a frequency range of about 1 Hz and 22 kHz, and

wherein the stored therapeutic signal is secured within the signal generator portion;

securing the signal generator to the patient and the electromagnetic transducer portion to an area of the patient to be treated;

checking for an appropriate connection between the electromagnetic transducer portion and the signal generator portion;

unsecuring the stored therapeutic signal;

initiating a timer;

generating a magnetic signal directed to the area of the patient to be treated, wherein the magnetic signal is based on the stored therapeutic signal; and

when the timer reaches a predetermined value, disabling the signal generator portion to prohibit reuse of the stored therapeutic signal.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the stored therapeutic signal is encrypted within the signal generator portion, and wherein unsecuring the stored therapeutic signal includes decrypting the stored therapeutic signal.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein disabling the signal generator portion includes erasing the stored electromagnetic signal.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein checking for an appropriate connection includes determining a type of the electromagnetic transducer portion, and wherein the method includes adjusting an amplification of the magnetic signal based on the determined type.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein checking for an appropriate connection includes reading identification information from the electromagnetic transducer portion.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein checking for an appropriate connection includes periodically confirming that the electromagnetic transducer portion continues to maintain a physical resistance value within tolerance.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the stored therapeutic signal is obtained from the sample of the chemical or biochemical agent by:

providing the sample of the chemical or biochemical agent within an electromagnetic shielding structure and proximate to at least one superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) or magnetometer;

placing the sample in a container having both magnetic and electromagnetic shielding, wherein the sample acts as a signal source for molecular signals;

injecting noise into the sample in the absence of another signal from another signal source at a noise amplitude sufficient to generate stochastic resonance,

wherein the noise has a substantially uniform amplitude over multiple frequencies;

detecting, via the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) or magnetometer, output radiation from the sample and recording an electromagnetic time-domain signal composed of sample source radiation superimposed on the injected noise in the absence of the another generated signal; and

repeating the injecting and detecting at each of multiple noise levels within a selected noise-level range until the drug sample source radiation is distinguishable over the injected noise.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein checking for an appropriate connection includes providing a user-perceivable alarm when the connection between the electromagnetic transducer portion and the signal generator portion is not detected or is detected outside of a prescribed tolerance.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising periodically checking, directly or indirectly, whether an inductance of the electromagnetic transducer portion is within a prescribed tolerance.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising periodically checking, directly or indirectly, whether an inductance of the electromagnetic transducer portion is within a prescribed tolerance so as to check proximity of the electromagnetic transducer portion to the patient.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising recording a data log capable of being displayed to a user, wherein the data log includes data representing:

a status of the timer, any interruptions of the timer, status of the connection between the electromagnetic transducer portion and the signal generator portion, and any error codes.

21. An apparatus for generating signals to provide treatment for ailments, the apparatus comprising:

an electromagnetic transducer portion having a terminal and a signal output portion coupled to the connector; and

,

a signal generator comprising—

a switch;

a memory for storing a therapeutic signal,

wherein the stored therapeutic signal is obtained from a sample of a chemical or biologic molecule including proteins, RNA and DNA sequences, and

wherein the stored therapeutic signal has a frequency range between 1 Hz to 22 kHz;

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the switch and the terminal;

a battery coupled at least to the processor, and

a housing for carrying the memory, processor and battery,

wherein the processor is programmed to provide the stored therapeutic signal for delivery to the electromagnetic transducer when the switch is in an on position, and

wherein the electromagnetic transducer produces an electromagnetic field signal in response to the stored therapeutic signal to provide treatment for ailments at a location proximate to the signal output portion.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein a user may actuate the switch, and wherein the processor is configured to provide the stored therapeutic signal for delivery to the electromagnetic transducer when the switch is in the on position and discontinue providing the stored therapeutic signal for delivery to the electromagnetic transducer when the switch is in an off position.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein a size of the signal output portion of the electromagnetic transducer portion has a selected internal area to define a breadth and depth of a treatment area for the electromagnetic field signal.