Method and system for applying low energy emission therapy

• US 5,441,528 A
• Filed: 09/25/1992
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symtonic SA
• Original Assignee: Symtonic SA
• Inventors: Lebet, Jean-Pierre, Barbault, Alexandre, Pasche, Boris, Chang, Rea-Woun, Kunz, Henry, Kuster, Niels
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US07/951,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45-47, 607/58, 607/59, 607/62, 607/68, 607/76, 607/98, 607/99, 607/100, 607/101, 607/115, 607/116, 607/134, 607/2
• US Class Current: 607/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

A low energy emission therapy system is provided which includes an emitter of low energy electromagnetic emissions and a probe for applying the emissions to a patient under treatment. The emitter emits a high frequency electromagnetic emission in the form of a carrier signal modulated by a plurality of modulation signals. The invention also includes an impedance transformer located intermediate the emitter and the probe in order to match the impedance of the patient with that of the output of the emitter. Particular modulation signal frequencies and application times and sequences are provided for the treatment of insomnia, and for the treatment of general anxiety disorder which may include panic attacks.

Claims

1. A system for applying a modulated low energy electromagnetic emission to a patient, comprising:

a controllable electromagnetic energy generator means for generating a high frequency low energy carrier signal, and for modulating an amplitude of the carrier signal with a plurality of programmable modulation signals to generate a modulated carrier signal;

a data processor means, connected to said generator means for controlling said generator means to produce said modulated carrier signal;

an interface means for an application storage device, connected to said data processor means and adapted for connection to an application storage device, for receiving control information, including modulation signal control information, from the application storage device, and for transferring said control information to said data processor means; and

a probe, connected to the generator means to receive said modulated carrier signal, for applying said modulated carrier signal to a patient.

2. The system of claim 1, said controllable electromagnetic energy generator means comprising:

a high frequency low energy carrier signal generator circuit;

a modulation signal generator circuit; and

an AM modulator and power generator connected to said carrier signal generator circuit and said modulation signal generator circuit, for modulating said high frequency low energy carrier signal with said plurality modulation signals to produce said modulated carrier signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said modulation signal generator means comprises:

an addressable modulation signal storage device;

an address generator means, connected to and controlled by said data processor means, for generating addresses for said modulation signal storage device under control of said data processor means; and

a digital to analog converter, connected to said modulation signal storage device, for converting a digital modulation signal output from said modulation signal storage device into an analog modulation signal.

4. The system of claim 3, said modulation signal generator means further comprising:

a selective filter means, connected to and controlled by said data means, for selectively filtering said analog modulation signal to produce a filtered modulation signal; and

a modulation signal buffer amplifier means, connected to and controlled by said data means, for buffering said filtered modulation signal before application to said AM modulator and power generator.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an emitter means for receiving said modulation signal and carrier signal and for applying modulated carrier signal to said probe.

6. The system of claim 5, said emitter means comprising:

an AM modulator means for converting said plurality of modulation signals and carrier signal into a modulated carrier signal;

a tuned resonant converter means for amplifying the said modulated carrier signal; and

a filter circuit means for filtering said modulated carrier signal.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising an antenna cable connected intermediate said emitter means and said probe.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an impedance transformer connected intermediate said emitter means and said probe to substantially match an impedance of said patient seen from said emitter means with an impedance of the output of the emitter means.

9. The system of claim 8, said impedance transformer comprising an inductor connected intermediate said emitter means and said probe, and a capacitor connected intermediate ground and a point of connection between said inductor and said probe.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic emission sensor means, connected to said data processor means, for sensing electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of said carrier signal, and for providing an indication of the presence or absence of said carrier signal.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power sensor means for detecting an amount of electromagnetic power applied to said patient.

12. The system of claim 11, said power sensor means including:

means for detecting an amount of power applied to said patient;

a detector for detecting an amount of power reflected from said patient; and

means for comparing said amount of power applied to said patient with said amount of power reflected from said patient.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display device, connected to and controlled by said data processor means, for displaying indicia of the operation of the system.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said probe comprises a probe element of electrically conductive material adapted to be applied to mucosa of said patient.

15. The system of claim 14, said probe element being sized to fit into a mouth of said patient.