Method of using magnetic fields to uniformly induce electric fields for therapeutic purposes

• US 7,587,230 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Catholic University of America (Catholic University)
• Original Assignee: Catholic University of America (Catholic University)
• Inventors: Litovitz, Theodore A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US11/055,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/408, 600/409, 607/100, 607/115, 607/102, 607/96, 607/101, 606/13, 606/32, 606/33, 606/34, 604/291
• US Class Current: 600/409
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering an electric field to a body by delivering a first magnetic field from a first coil in a first orientation to a body and directed at a desired target within the body, and delivering a second magnetic field from a second coil in a second orientation directed at the desired target within the body to induce an electric field across the desired target, wherein only one magnetic field is delivered to the body at any one time.

Claims

1. A method of delivering an electric field to a body, comprising:

delivering a polarized magnetic field in a first direction to a body and directed at a desired target within the body; and

changing the delivery direction of said magnetic field to a second direction directed at said desired target to induce an electric field across said desired target, wherein said magnetic field is created with at least two pairs of coils.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least two pairs of coils are arranged to deliver a magnetic field in at least two different directions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein an AC current flows alternately through said at least two pairs of coils.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the AC current in one pair of coils is approximately 90 degrees out of phase with the AC current in at least one other pair of coils.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the AC current in one pair of coils is from approximately 60 degrees to approximately 120 degrees out of phase with the AC current in at least one other pair of coils.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the planar orientation of said magnetic field in said first direction is perpendicular to the planar orientation of said magnetic field in said second direction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is delivered in said first direction for at least 5 seconds before the delivery direction is changed to said second direction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is delivered in said first direction for at least 10 seconds before the delivery direction is changed to said second direction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is delivered in said first direction for at least 30 seconds before the delivery direction is changed to said second direction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is delivered in said first direction for no more than 300 seconds before the delivery direction is changed to said second direction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is delivered to the body for approximately 30 minutes to approximately 60 minutes.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the target comprises cancer cells.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the target comprises heart tissue.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is linearly polarized.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is circularly polarized.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is created with an AC current flowing through said at least two pairs of coils.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivered magnetic field comprises a frequency of approximately 20 Hz or more.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivered magnetic field comprises a frequency of approximately 20 Hz to approximately 60 Hz.