Coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment

• US 6,569,078 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Norio, Suda, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICOLAS, FREDERICK C
• Application Number:
  US09/770,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 600/9, 600/29, 600/13
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A core (5) is composed of a J-shaped front core portion (1), a J-shaped rear core portion (2), a U-shaped left core portion (3), and a U-shaped right core portion (4). These core portions (1 to 4) have one-side end portions which are substantially directed in one and the same direction and which are fixed to one another to thereby form a center portion (6). A coil (7) is wound on the center portion (6). The core (5) is attached to a core support member attached closely to a patient. In use, the coil apparatus is made close or near to the patient. When the coil (7) is supplied with a pulse current, pulse-like magnetic flux is generated in the purdendal nerve and pelvic floor muscle group of the patient so that an eddy current is induced. The patient in the region where magnetic flux is generated and an eddy current is generated, is stimulated sufficiently, so that urinary incontinence treatment is performed.

Claims

1. A coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment, said coil apparatus comprising:

a core with at least four core elements, each of said core elements being U-or J-shaped, each of said core elements having one side end portion and another side end portion opposite to said one side end portion, respectively, said one side end portions being directed substantially in one and the same direction, said one side end portions being fixed to one another at a portion which is defined as a center portion of said core, said other side end portions being extended in different directions, respectively, from said center portion so that said other side end portions are disposed at equal intervals from one another when said center portion is viewed as a center point;

a coil wound on said core; and

a core support member to which said core is attached, said core support member being able to be disposed close or near to a patient.

2. A coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment comprising:

a core integrally formed by a mold, said core having at least four core elements, each of said core elements being U- or J-shaped, said core elements having one side end portion and another side end portion opposite to said one side end portion, respectively, said one side end portions being directed substantially in one and the same direction, said one-side end portions being fixed to one another at a portion which is defined as a center portion of said core, said the other side end portions each being extended in a separate direction respectively from said center portion so that said other side end portions are disposed at equal intervals from one another when said center portion is viewed as a center point;

a coil wound on said core; and

a core support member to which said core is attached, said core support member being able to be disposed close or near to a patient.

3. A coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment comprising:

a core having at least four core elements for generating magnetic flux;

a core support member to which said core is attached;

wherein said core generates the magnetic flux to a patient in forward and rear directions of a pelvic floor muscle group and in right and left directions along second to fourth sacral nerves innervated in said right and left directions serving as a trunk branching to a purdendal nerve.