Therapeutic field generator

• US 6,029,084 A
• Filed: 11/20/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharon Alice Jane Long
• Original Assignee: Alistair Ross Macnicol
• Inventors: Long, Sharon Alice Jane, Walpole, Stephen John
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US08/930,826
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/47, 607/45, 607/62, 607/70
• US Class Current: 607/2
• 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 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/725 Nanomotor/nanoactuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/838 Magnetic property of nanomaterial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/948 Energy storage/generating using nanostructure, e.g. fuel cell, battery

Abstract

An electric or electromagnetic field generator for therapeutic use. A heartbeat signal produced by a user is monitored to derive a signal indicative of the frequency of the user'"'"'s heartbeat. A generator creates an electric or electromagnetic field based on a combined signal derived from a first signal dependent on the determined heartbeat frequency, and a second signal stimulating the brain activity of the user. The device may be worn by the user, on an ongoing basis. The second signal may be modified to provide a train of pulses having a width substantially equal to a neuron depolarization pulse to improve the user'"'"'s response to the signal.

Claims

1. An electric field generator apparatus, for therapeutic use, comprising:

monitoring means for determining the heartbeat frequency of the user;

one or more generating means to generate a first signal and a second signal, wherein the frequency of the first signal is dependent upon the determined heartbeat frequency, and the frequency of the second signal simulates brain activity of a user; and

means for outputting the signal as an electric field.

2. A field generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises first and second signal generators for generating the first and second signals and a signal mixing means for combining said first and second signals.

3. A field generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second signal is a train of pulses each having a width substantially equal to the width of a neuron depolarization pulse.

4. A field generator apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the train of pulses is generated at a frequency of up to 100 Hz.

5. A field generator apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the width of each pulse is about 125 microseconds.

6. A field generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the output means comprises an antenna.

7. A field generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the output means comprises a coil.

8. A field generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heartbeat frequency monitoring means comprises a field effect type microphone.

9. A field generator apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the heartbeat frequency monitoring means comprises an infra-red emitter and detector.