Method for the treatment of bedsores using electrical impulses

• US 6,941,173 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADB International Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lifewave Ltd.
• Inventors: Nachum, Zvi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alter, Alyssa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/240,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 607/50, 607/46, 607/72, 607/74, 607/73
• US Class Current: 607/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

A method for the treatment of a sore by applying a series of voltage wave forms, including the steps of: (a) situating a pair of spaced-apart electrodes in contact with healthy tissue on opposite sides of a sore having substantially zero electrical activity, and (b) externally inducing a percutaneous flow of electrical current between the electrodes by establishing the series of voltage wave forms across the electrodes, wherein the series of voltage wave forms includes wave forms designed to substantially mimic characteristic natural voltage wave form emissions of at least one electrically activity sore. The sore can subsequently be monitored for independent electrical activity, and if independent electrical activity is not sustained, step (b) is reapplied. The treatment method is particularly appropriate for bedsores.

Claims

1. A method for the treatment of a sore, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) situating electrodes in a vicinity of the sore of a patient to be treated, and

(b) externally inducing a percutaneous flow of electrical current between said electrodes by establishing at least one voltage wave form across said electrodes, wherein said at least one voltage wave form includes a wave form designed to substantially mimic characteristic natural voltage wave form emissions of at least one electrically active sore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sore includes an area having substantially zero electrical activity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one voltage wave form includes at least one asymmetric wave form.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one voltage wave form has a peak rate of 50-10,000 peaks per second.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one voltage wave form has a peak rate of 200-5,000 peaks per second.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one voltage wave form has a peak rate of 400-2,000 peaks per second.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one voltage wave form includes at least one wave form having a voltage peak of 3-10 Volts.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrically active sore is a sore of said patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrically active sore is a plurality of electrically active sores, and wherein said characteristic natural voltage wave form emissions include an average of voltage wave form emissions of said plurality.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to step (b):

(c) providing at least one voltage wave form, said at least one voltage wave form being derived from voltage wave form emissions of said at least one electrically active sore.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one voltage wave form further includes an external bipolar voltage wave form having a frequency of between 2 Hz and 30 Hz.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said external bipolar voltage wave form has a frequency of between 2 Hz and 10 Hz.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one voltage wave form is a substantially repetitive series.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said external bipolar voltage wave form has a frequency of between 2 Hz and 5 Hz.

15. A system for the treatment of a sore of a patient, the system comprising:

(a) electrodes for situating in a vicinity of the sore of the patient, and

(b) a signal generator, for connecting to a power source, said signal generator for generating electrical impulses to said electrodes so as to induce a percutaneous flow of electrical current between said electrodes by establishing at least one voltage wave form across said electrodes,

said at least one voltage wave form including a wave form designed to substantially mimic characteristic natural voltage wave form emissions of at least one electrically active sore.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said signal generator further includes:

a mechanism for applying a pre-programmed series of voltage waves via said electrodes.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said pre-programmed series of voltage waves has a peak rate of 50-10,000 peaks per second.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said is 200-5,000 peaks per second.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said peak rate is 400-2,000 peaks per second.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said wave form is bipolar.

21. A system for the treatment of a sore of a patient, the system comprising:

(a) electrodes for situating in a vicinity of the sore of the patient, said sore including an area having substantially zero electrical activity, and

(b) a signal generator, for connecting to a power source, said signal generator for generating electrical impulses to said electrodes so as to induce a percutaneous flow of electrical current between said electrodes by establishing at least one voltage wave form across said electrodes,

said at least one voltage wave form having a peak rate of 50-10,000 peaks per second,

wherein said voltage wave form is derived from a voltage wave form emission of at least one electrically active sore.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said voltage wave form is a bipolar voltage wave form.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said peak rate of said voltage wave form is 200-5,000 peaks per second.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said peak rate of said voltage wave form is 400-2,000 peaks per second.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said signal generator further includes:

(c) a mechanism for applying a pre-programmed series of voltage waves via said electrodes.

26. The system of claim 21, the system further comprising:

(c) a mechanism for monitoring an independent electrical activity of the sore.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said signal generator is designed and configured to generate said electrical impulses to said electrodes based on said independent electrical activity.

28. A system for the treatment of a sore of a patient, the system comprising:

(a) electrodes for situating in a vicinity of the sore of the patient, said sore including an area having substantially zero electrical activity, and

(b) a signal generator, for connecting to a power source, said signal generator for generating electrical impulses to said electrodes so as to induce a percutaneous flow of electrical current between said electrodes by establishing at least one voltage wave form across said electrodes,

wherein said voltage wave form is derived from a voltage wave form emission of at least one electrically active sore.