Method and apparatus for connective tissue treatment

• US 8,123,707 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exogen Inc. (Bioventus LLC)
• Original Assignee: Exogen Inc. (Bioventus LLC)
• Inventors: Huckle, James William, Carter, Andrew, Cotton, Nicolas J., Scarborough, Nelson, Walsh, William R, Talish, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US12/818,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 601/2, 600/437
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/16 Bone cutting, breaking or removal means other than saws, e.g. Osteoclasts; Drills or chisels for bones; Trepans arthroscopic bone cutters A61B17/320016; dental implant drills potentially for other surgical use A61C8/0089; bone grinders A61F2/4644, A22C17/06; A61B17/1662 takes precedence over all other subgroups except A61B17/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/04 for non-specific disorders of the connective tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for therapeutically treating connective tissue or increasing vascularization in tissue using ultrasound. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus which use ultrasound to stimulate growth or healing, or to treating pathologies, of connective tissue, or to increase vascularization in ischaemic or grafted tissue using ultrasound.

Claims

1. A method for stimulating growth or healing, or treating pathologies, of a spinal disc in mammals in need thereof, comprising:

subjecting the affected spinal disc to noninvasive, low intensity pulsed ultrasound with a substantially single frequency between about 1 MHz and about 2 MHz, a pulse width of between about 10 and about 2,000 microseconds, a repetition frequency of about 0.1 to about 10 KHz, and for a duration sufficient to stimulate growth, healing, or repair of the spinal disc.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the low intensity ultrasound has a frequency of around 1.5 MHz.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse width is about 200 microseconds.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the repetition frequency is about 1 KHz.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the ultrasound is less than 100 milliwatts/cm².

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal disc is affected by a degenerative disease.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein subjecting the affected spinal disc to the noninvasive, low intensity pulsed ultrasound for a duration sufficient to stimulate growth, healing, or repair of the spinal disc comprises subjecting the affected spinal disc to the noninvasive, low intensity pulsed ultrasound for a duration sufficient to stimulate growth, healing, or repair of connective tissue of the spinal disc.