Apparatus and method for ultrasonically and electromagnetically treating tissue
First Claim
1. A treatment assembly for providing ultrasonic and electromagnetic stimulation to a treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury, said assembly comprising:
- at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly having at least one ultrasonic transducer;
at least one electromagnetic coil assembly having at least one electromagnetic coil operatively associated with said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly;
a placement module configured to be worn by a patient, said placement module being configured to receive said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly and said at least one electromagnetic coil assembly such that when said placement module is worn said at least one ultrasonic transducer and said at least one electromagnetic coil are positioned to provide modulated ultrasound energy and electromagnetic energy towards said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury, wherein the at least one electromagnetic coil is adapted to be selectively positioned in different orientations with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to vary the modulation of the ultrasound energy towards said treatment area adjacent to said bone defect or injury; and
a main operating unit for providing at least one driving signal to said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer and said at least one electromagnetic coil to provide ultrasonic and electromagnetic stimulation to said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to apparatus and method for ultrasonically and electromagnetically treating tissue to treat, for example, traumatized tissue or a bone injury. The apparatus includes at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly and at least one electromagnetic coil-assembly configured to cooperate with a placement module for placement in proximity to the treatment area. The apparatus also utilizes a portable main operating unit constructed to fit within a pouch or carrying case worn by the patient. In operation, at least one ultrasonic transducer and at least one electromagnetic coil are activated by transmitting control signals to the placement module from the main operating unit. The activation of the at least one ultrasonic transducer causes ultrasonic waves to be propagated toward the treatment area which are modulated by electrostatic and magnetic forces generated by the at least one electromagnetic coil. The activation of the at least one ultrasonic transducer and the at least one electromagnetic coil may be performed at the same time or at different times for varying periods.
418 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A treatment assembly for providing ultrasonic and electromagnetic stimulation to a treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury, said assembly comprising:
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at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly having at least one ultrasonic transducer; at least one electromagnetic coil assembly having at least one electromagnetic coil operatively associated with said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly; a placement module configured to be worn by a patient, said placement module being configured to receive said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly and said at least one electromagnetic coil assembly such that when said placement module is worn said at least one ultrasonic transducer and said at least one electromagnetic coil are positioned to provide modulated ultrasound energy and electromagnetic energy towards said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury, wherein the at least one electromagnetic coil is adapted to be selectively positioned in different orientations with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to vary the modulation of the ultrasound energy towards said treatment area adjacent to said bone defect or injury; and a main operating unit for providing at least one driving signal to said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer and said at least one electromagnetic coil to provide ultrasonic and electromagnetic stimulation to said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for ultrasonically and electromagnetically treating tissue and bone defect or injuries, said method comprising:
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providing a main operating unit having an internal power source coupled to at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly and at least one electromagnetic coil assembly, said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly includes at least one ultrasonic transducer, said at least one electromagnetic coil assembly includes at least one electromagnetic coil; providing a placement module configured to receive said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly and said at least one electromagnetic coil assembly such that when said placement module is secured to a patient'"'"'s body said at least one ultrasonic transducer and said at least one electromagnetic coil are positioned to provide modulated ultrasound energy and electromagnetic energy towards a treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury, wherein the at least one electromagnetic coil is adapted to be selectively positioned in different orientations with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to vary the modulation of the ultrasound energy towards said treatment area adjacent to said bone defect or injury; exciting said at least one ultrasonic transducer to impinge ultrasonic waves towards the treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; and exciting said at least one electromagnetic coil to create an electromagnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for ultrasonically and electromagnetically treating tissue and bone defects or injuries, said method comprising:
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securing at least one ultrasonic transducer to a placement band; securing at least one electromagnetic coil to said placement band; affixing the placement band on a patient such that said at least one ultrasonic transducer is in proximity to a treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury; exciting said at least one ultrasonic transducer to impinge ultrasonic waves towards said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; exciting said at least one electromagnetic coil to create a modulating force to modulate said ultrasonic waves towards said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; and selectively positioning the at least one electromagnetic coil in different orientations with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to vary the modulating force to modulate said ultrasonic waves. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for providing ultrasonic and electromagnetic stimulation to a treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury, said apparatus comprising:
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means for generating and propagating an ultrasound wave towards said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; means for generating an electromagnetic field to modulate said ultrasound wave towards said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; means for selectively positioning an electromagnetic coil associated with the electromagnetic field in different orientations with respect to the ultrasound generating means to vary the modulation of said ultrasound wave as it propagates along said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; and control means for controlling one or more properties of said ultrasound wave and said electromagnetic field at respective times. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A treatment assembly for providing ultrasonic and electromagnetic stimulation to a treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury, said assembly comprising:
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at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly having at least one ultrasonic transducer; at least one electromagnetic coil assembly having at least one electromagnetic coil operatively associated with said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly; a placement module configured to be worn by a patient, said placement module being configured to receive said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly and said at least one electromagnetic coil assembly such that when said placement module is worn said at least one ultrasonic transducer and said at least one electromagnetic coil are positioned to provide energy toward said treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury, wherein either said at least one ultrasonic transducer or said at least one electromagnetic coil can be selectively positioned relative to the other to vary the amount of modulation of the energy along said treatment area adjacent to said bone defect or injury; and a main operating unit for providing at least one driving signal to said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly for driving said at least one ultrasonic transducer and said at least one electromagnetic coil to provide ultrasonic and electromagnetic stimulation to said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury.
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31. A method for ultrasonically and electromagnetically treating tissue and bone defects or injuries, said method comprising:
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providing a main operating unit having an internal power source coupled to at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly and at least one electromagnetic coil assembly, said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly includes at least one ultrasonic transducer, said at least one electromagnetic coil assembly includes at least one electromagnetic coil; providing a placement module configured to receive said at least one ultrasonic transducer assembly and said at least one electromagnetic coil assembly such that when said placement module is secured to a patient'"'"'s body said at least one ultrasonic transducer and said at least one electromagnetic coil are positioned to provide energy towards said treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury, wherein either said at least one ultrasonic transducer or said at least one electromagnetic coil can be selectively positioned relative to the other to vary the amount of modulation of the energy; exciting said at least one ultrasonic transduce to impinge ultrasonic waves towards the treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; and exciting said at least one electromagnetic coil to create an electromagnetic field towards the treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury.
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32. A method for ultrasonically and electromagnetically treating tissue and bone defects or injuries, said method comprising;
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securing at least one ultrasonic transducer to a placement band; securing at least one electromagnetic coil to said placement band; affixing the placement band on a patient such that said at least one ultrasonic transducer is in proximity to said treatment area adjacent to a bone defect or injury; exciting said at least one ultrasonic transducer to impinge ultrasonic waves towards said treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; exciting said at least one electromagnetic coil to create a modulating force to modulate said ultrasonic waves towards the treatment area adjacent to the bone defect or injury; and selectively positioning either said at least one ultrasonic transducer or said at least one electromagnetic coil relative to the other to vary the amount of modulation of said ultrasonic waves.
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Specification