Device for applying a high frequency electromagnetic field to living tissue to promote healing thereof

• US 4,471,787 A
• Filed: 09/24/1982
• Issued: 09/18/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard H.C. Bentall
• Original Assignee: Richard H.C. Bentall
• Inventors: Bentall, Richard H. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/422,558
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 128/422, 128/804
• US Class Current: 607/154
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

A portable therapy device for attachment to a patient to promote tissue healing by exposure to an r.f. field, comprises an oscillator (5) which energizes an antenna having a transmitting element (1) the natural directive pattern of which is modified by a reflector (8) and a parasitic element (10) such that a major part of the r.f. field emitted by the antenna passes to the patient. In another embodiment the antenna is configured to produce a spatially substantially uniform field strength over the area of the patient being treated. The device subjects the tissue to r.f. power levels which produce no significant tissue heating.

Claims

1. A device for applying a high frequency electromagnetic field to tissue of a patient to promote healing, comprising:

an antenna for directing the field to the patient;

an oscillator circuit arranged to energize the antenna to propagate electromagnetic energy for promoting healing of the tissue but without producing any significant heating thereof; and

,

means for constraining the electromagnetic energy propagated by the antenna to a directive pattern wherein a substantially greater proportion of said energy is propagated in forward direction for treating the tissue than in an opposite rearward direction so as to minimize emission of said energy outwardly of the patient.

3. A device according to claims 1 and 2, wherein said antenna comprises a transmitting element arranged to be energised by the oscillator circuit to propagate said energy;

and, reflector means for reflecting into said forward direction energy transmitted from said transmitting element in said rearward direction.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said reflector means is spaced from the transmitting element by a predetermined distance necessary for the energy reflected by the reflector means to be in phase with, and additive to the energy transmitted by the transmitting element in said forward direction.

5. A device according to claims 1 or 2, further comprising a layer of radiation absorbing material for absorbing energy transmitted in said rearward direction.

7. A device according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting element comprises an electrical conductor arrangement formed as a loop defining an open space therein, permitting passage of fluids to and from a wound in the tissue.

8. A device according to claim 7, further comprising a wound dressing disposed in said space.

9. A device according to claim 3, wherein said transmitting element comprises a loop of coaxial cable.

10. A device according to claim 3, wherein said antenna encompasses a given area for treating a corresponding area of tissue, and said antenna is arranged to produce said field with spatially uniform field strength over at least a major portion of said given area.

2. A device for applying a radio frequency electromagnetic field to tissue of the patient to promote healing thereof, comprising;

a flexible antenna for conforming to the shape of the patient;

a battery;

an electrical oscillator means for being driven by the battery and arranged to energize the antenna to propagate radio frequency electromagnetic energy for promoting healing of the tissue but without producing any significant heating thereof; and

,

means for constraining the electromagnetic energy propagated by the antenna to a directive pattern wherein a substantially greater proportion of said energy is propagated in a forward direction for treating the tissue than in an opposite rearward direction so as to minimize emission of said energy outwardly of the patient.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein said antenna includes a parasitic element for modifying the natural directive pattern of transmission of said energy from said transmitting element.

11. A device for applying a high frequency electromagnetic field to tissue of the patient to promote healing, comprising;

an antenna for overlying tissue of the patient, said antenna encompassing a given area for treating a corresponding tissue area of the patient; and

,

an electrical oscillator means arranged to energize the antenna to propagate electromagnetic energy for promoting healing of the tissue without producing any significant tissue heating thereof, said antenna having a plurality of linear conducting portions arranged to produce said field with a spatially uniform field strength over at least a major portion of said given area.

14. A device according to claims 2 or 11, wherein said antenna presents an inductance to the radio frequency energy produced by the oscillator means, and said inductance comprises a frequency determining circuit component of said oscillator means.

12. A device for applying a radio frequency electromagnetic field to tissue of the patient to promote healing thereof, comprising;

a flexible antenna for conforming to the shape of the patient, said antenna encompassing a given area for treating a corresponding (tissue area of the patient;

a battery; and

,

an electrical oscillator circuit arranged to energize the antenna to propagate electromagnetic energy for promoting healing of the tissue but without producing any significant tissue heating, said antenna having a plurality of linear conducting portions arranged to produce said field with a spatially uniform field strength over at least a major portion of said given area.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said antenna comprises a flexible insulating substrate for overlying a patient'"'"'s tissue and, a metalized pattern formed on the substrate.