Random pulsed high frequency therapy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for altering a function of living tissue comprising:
- an electrode; and
a signal generator coupled to the electrode to generate an electrical signal output to be applied to the living tissue through the electrode, the electrical signal output having an interrupted waveform having bursts of on-time periods of a high frequency carrier frequency component, the on-time periods having non-predictable and uncorrelated time durations, each of the on-time periods being followed by off-time periods, the amplitude of the electrical signal output during the off-time periods being low relative to the amplitude of the electrical signal output of the on-time period, and the bursts of the on-time periods commencing at a regular rate, such that the application of the electrical signal output to the living tissue for a sufficient treatment time will result in alteration of a function of the living tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for modifying a function of tissue can include the application of an electromagnetic signal output to tissue cells. The electromagnetic signal output can have a waveform with bursts of signal output amplitude that produces fields in the tissue during the burst on-time that can modify cell components. The on-time periods are followed by off-time periods of low signal output amplitude which produce lesser modification effects on cell components. The on-time periods have time durations that are non-predetermined and random. The rate of on-time bursts can be regular, and in one example periodic. In one example, the waveform has amplitudes during the on-time periods and durations of on-time periods that causes elevation of the temperature of tissue that exceeds the lethal temperature levels of 45 to 50° C.
64 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for altering a function of living tissue comprising:
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an electrode; and a signal generator coupled to the electrode to generate an electrical signal output to be applied to the living tissue through the electrode, the electrical signal output having an interrupted waveform having bursts of on-time periods of a high frequency carrier frequency component, the on-time periods having non-predictable and uncorrelated time durations, each of the on-time periods being followed by off-time periods, the amplitude of the electrical signal output during the off-time periods being low relative to the amplitude of the electrical signal output of the on-time period, and the bursts of the on-time periods commencing at a regular rate, such that the application of the electrical signal output to the living tissue for a sufficient treatment time will result in alteration of a function of the living tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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12. (canceled)
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13. A method of altering a function of tissue in a living body comprising:
applying a generated interrupted high frequency waveform having on-time bursts of a high frequency signal output of non-predictable and uncorrelated on-time durations, the high frequency signal output during the on-time bursts comprising at least one high frequency carrier frequency component, each of the on-time bursts being followed by an off-time period of a low signal output relative to the intensity of the preceding on-time period, the off-time periods having a non-predictable and uncorrelated off-time durations, the bursts commencing at a regular rate, to tissue being treated for a treatment time sufficient to result in alteration of a function of the tissue without resulting in an average temperature elevation of the tissue being treated above the lethal temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 17, 18, 35, 36, 37)
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16. (canceled)
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19. A method for modification of tissue function comprising:
applying a generated interrupted high frequency waveforms having non-predictable and uncorrelated time periods of on-time bursts of high frequency output followed by non-predictable and uncorrelated off-time periods of low output amplitude relative to the amplitude of the on-time burst, the high frequency signal output during said on-time bursts comprising at least one high frequency carrier frequency component, the rate of on-time bursts being regular, to target tissue to be treated for a treatment time sufficient to result in modification of the target tissue and heating at least a portion of the target tissue during at least a portion of the on-time bursts to temperatures that are above a lethal temperature range for tissue of about 45 to 50°
C.- View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for alteration of a function of selected tissue comprising:
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a signal generator configured to generate interrupted high frequency waveforms having non-predictable and uncorrelated time periods of on-time bursts of high frequency output followed by non-predictable and uncorrelated off-time periods of low output amplitude relative to the amplitude of the on-time burst and the rate of commencing the on-time bursts being regular, the high frequency signal output during said on-time bursts comprising at least one high frequency carrier frequency component; and an electrode coupled to the generator and being adapted to apply the interrupted high frequency waveforms to the selected tissue, wherein application of the interrupted high frequency waveforms to the selected tissue for a sufficient time alters a function of the selected tissue while inhibiting heating of the selected tissue to lethal temperatures for the selected tissue.
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23. An apparatus for altering a function of tissue comprising:
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an electrode adapted to apply an amplitude modulated signal to the tissue, a signal generator adapted to connect to the electrode that generates an electromagnetic signal output with an amplitude modulated waveform having bursts of on-time periods during which a high frequency waveform is applied to the tissue, the high frequency waveform having at least one high frequency component, the bursts of on-time periods having non-predictable and uncorrelated durations and commencing at a regular rate, the amplitude of the waveform during at least some of the bursts of on-time periods being sufficient to elevate the temperature of at least a portion of the tissue to the lethal temperature range during the at least some of the bursts of on-time periods, each burst of on-time period being followed by an off-time period having a non-predictable and uncorrelated off-time duration and during which the amplitude of the waveform is lower than the amplitude of the on-time period, so that when the electromagnetic signal output is applied to the tissue through the electrode for a sufficient treatment time an alteration of a function of the tissue will occur. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of altering a function of tissue, comprising:
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applying an amplitude modulated electrical signal from a signal generator to the tissue through an electrode, the amplitude modulated electrical signal having a waveform having bursts of electrical signal output for on-time periods, each of the on-time periods being followed by an off-time period of low electrical signal output relative to the electrical signal output of the on-time periods, the waveform during the bursts having at least one high frequency carrier wave oscillation frequency component, the on-time periods of the bursts having non-predictable and uncorrelated durations, and the bursts commencing at a regular rate; electromagnetically coupling the signal generator to the electrode; adjusting the amplitude of the signal electrical output for the on-time periods so that during at least some of the bursts the temperature of at least a portion of the tissue is elevated to the lethal temperature range; and maintaining the application of the amplitude modulated electrical signal to the tissue for sufficient treatment time to alter a function of the tissue.
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29. A system for altering a function of tissue of tissue comprising:
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a signal applicator adapted to apply an electrical signal output to the tissue; a signal generator that generates an electrical signal output including high frequency waveforms having non-predictable and uncorrelated time periods of on-time bursts of at least one high frequency carrier wave oscillation frequency component, each on-time burst being followed by an off-time period, the electrical signal output having a strength during the off-time periods being sufficiently low to have no function-altering effect on the tissue, the rate of commencement of the on-time bursts being regular, and the strength of the electrical output signal during the on-time bursts being sufficient to alter the function of the tissue when the signal is applied to the tissue for a sufficient treatment time; and a signal coupler that couples the signal generator and the signal applicator.
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30. A method for altering the function of tissue comprising:
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generating an electrical signal including an interrupted high frequency waveform having non-predictable and uncorrelated time periods of on-time bursts of at least one high frequency carrier wave oscillation frequency component, each on-time burst being followed by an off-time period, the strength of the electrical signal during the off-time period being sufficiently low to have no function-altering effect on the tissue, the rate of commencement of the on-time bursts being regular, and the strength of the electrical signal during the on-time bursts being sufficient to alter the function of the tissue when the electrical signal is applied to the tissue for a sufficient treatment time; and applying the electrical signal to the tissue for the sufficient treatment time.
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Specification