Ultrasound therapy

• US 8,048,006 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioventus LLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Harris, Susan Jane
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAO, ELMER M
• Application Number:
  US11/462,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 600/411, 600/439, 600/11, 601/2
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A method of treating a peripheral neuropathy, peripheral neurodegenerative disease, or peripheral nerve trauma is disclosed. The method includes the step of applying an ultrasound signal to an anatomical location on a patient.

Claims

1. A method of treating a peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease, comprising:

placing an ultrasound applicator adjacent to a patient'"'"'s skin surface proximate a neuropathic area affected by the peripheral neuropathy or the neurodegenerative disease such that, during operation, the ultrasound applicator directs ultrasound through the neuropathic area; and

applying ultrasound through the neuropathic area using the ultrasound applicator,

wherein the ultrasound comprises a pulsed radio frequency ultrasound signal having a frequency in the range of 1.3 MHz to 2 MHz, consisting of pulses generated at a rate in the range of 100 Hz to 1,000 Hz with each pulse having a duration in the range of 10 microseconds to 2,000 microseconds, and having a power intensity no higher than 100 milliwatts per square centimeter, and

wherein the peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease is selected from a group consisting of;

a systemic or metabolic neuropathy, a toxic neuropathy, a motor neuron disease, a neuropathy resulting from an infection, and an idiopathic neuropathy.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease is a systemic or metabolic neuropathy.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the metabolic neuropathy is a diabetic neuropathy.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease is a toxic neuropathy.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the toxic neuropathy is anti-retroviral drug-induced neuropathy.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease is a motor neuron disease.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease results from an infection.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease is idiopathic.

9. A method of treating a peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease, comprising:

placing an ultrasound transducer proximate a neuropathic area selected for treatment; and

operating the ultrasound transducer once per day and for a duration in the range of about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes to apply a pulsed radio frequency ultrasound signal to the neuropathic area to treat the peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease,

the pulsed radio frequency ultrasound having a frequency in the range of 1.3 MHz to 2 MHz, consisting of pulses generated at a rate in the range of 100 Hz to 1,000 Hz with each pulse having a duration in the range of 10 microseconds to 2,000 microseconds, and having a power intensity no higher than 100 milliwatts per square centimeter, and

the peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neurodegenerative disease being selected from a group consisting of;

a systemic or metabolic neuropathy, a toxic neuropathy, a motor neuron disease, a neuropathy resulting from an infection, and an idiopathic neuropathy.