METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC INDUCTION THERAPY

• US 20100204538A1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Emkinetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emkinetics, Inc.
• Inventors: BURNETT, Daniel Rogers, HERMANSON, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/509,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20100204538A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/004 specially adapted for a specific therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An energy emitting, apparatus for providing a medical therapy includes one or more energy generators, a logic controller electrically connected to the one or more energy generators, and one or more sensors that are connected to the logic controller for detecting electric conduction in a target nerve. The energy generators produce energy focused on the target nerve upon receiving a signal from the logic controller, and the energy is varied by the logic controller according to an input provided by the one or more sensors. The energy emitting apparatus includes one or more conductive coils that produce a magnetic field focused on the target nerve upon receiving an electric current from the logic controller based on input provided by the sensors. The sensor may also include a microneedle array to detect electrical conduction or an energy emitting apparatus may include a microneedle array to produce or deliver energy, an electrical or magnetic stimulus or field.

Claims

1. A method of treating a subject with fecal incontinence comprising:

positioning a first portion of a subject'"'"'s body, the subject exhibiting symptoms associated with fecal incontinence, relative to an energy emitting device such that a tibial nerve within the first portion of the body is in proximity to at least one energy generator disposed within or along the energy emitting device;

passing a current through the at least one energy generator to produce a magnetic field or electrical stimulus focused on the tibial nerve;

stimulating a nerve that innervates the pelvic, floor of the subject via stimulation of the tibial nerve with the magnetic field or electrical stimulus; and

reducing symptoms associated with fecal incontinence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy generator comprises a conductive coil for generating a magnetic field.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein positioning comprises placing a foot, ankle, or leg relative to at least one conductive coil disposed within or along a housing.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein positioning comprises placing a popliteal fossa relative to at least one conductive coil disposed within or along a housing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy generator comprises a microneedle patch for producing a magnetic field or electrical stimulus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a nerve that innervates the pelvic floor comprises the pudendal nerve or sacral plexus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein symptoms associated with fecal incontinence comprise the loss of voluntary control to retain stool in the rectum;

loss of fecal control;

inability to control bowel movements; and

fecal leaking.

8. The method of claim 1, farther comprising detecting electrical conduction through the tibial nerve or corresponding muscle stimulation via at least one sensor positioned along a second portion of the body.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a microneedle array.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor is positioned in proximity to the tibial nerve, over a muscle innervated by the tibial nerve, or over the popliteal fossa.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting the current via a controller in communication with the energy generator according to a signal received from the sensor indicative of the nerve conduction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting comprises adjusting amplitude, frequency, direction of a magnetic field, or firing sequence of the energy generator.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a position of the at least one coil relative to the first portion of the subject'"'"'s body to re-focus the magnetic field on the tibial nerve.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting comprises adjusting a position of the microneedle patch relative to the first portion of the subject'"'"'s body to re-focus the electrical or magnetic stimulus on the tibial nerve.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting comprises varying the current according to a muscular response in the patient.

16. A method of treating a subject with fecal incontinence comprising:

positioning a first portion of a subject'"'"'s body, the subject exhibiting symptoms associated with urinary incontinence, relative to a housing such that a posterior tibial nerve within the first portion of the body is in proximity to at least one conductive coil disposed within or along the housing;

passing a current through the at least one conductive coil to produce a magnetic field focused on the posterior tibial nerve;

detecting electrical conduction in the posterior tibial nerve via at least one microneedle array positioned along a second portion of the body;

receiving a signal from the microneedle array indicative of the electrical conduction;

adjusting the current via a controller in communication with the conductive coil according to the signal received from the microneedle array; and

reducing symptoms associated with fecal incontinence.