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

• US 8,014,846 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US12/534,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 600/409, 600/407, 600/408
• 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 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 said desired target within the body to induce an electric field across said desired target, wherein only one magnetic field is delivered to the body at any one time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first magnetic field in a first orientation and said second magnetic field in a second orientation comprises a linearly polarized magnetic field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first magnetic field in a first orientation and said second magnetic field in a second orientation comprises a circularly polarized magnetic field.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first coil and said second coil comprises a coil pair.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first orientation is perpendicular to said second orientation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a third magnetic field from a third coil in a third orientation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first orientation, said second orientation and said third orientation are each perpendicular to the orientations of the other coils.

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

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

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

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

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic fields are delivered to the body for a total of approximately 30 minutes to approximately 60 minutes.

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

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

15. The method of claim 1, wherein an AC current flows alternately through said first coil and said second coil.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the AC current flowing through said first coil is approximately 90 degrees out of phase with the AC current flowing through said second coil.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the AC current flowing through said first coil is from approximately 60 degrees to approximately 120 degrees out of phase with the AC current flowing through said second coil.