DEVICES AND METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASES WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

• US 20150196771A1
• Filed: 01/28/2015
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endonovo Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Andre' A. Dimino, Arthur A. Pilla, Matthew E. Drummer
• Inventors: PILLA, Arthur A., DIMINO, Andre' A., DRUMMER, Matthew E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,226,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2/004 specially adapted for a specific therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Described herein are devices and methods for treating degenerative joint diseases with electromagnetic fields using one or more waveforms that are configured to modulate Ca²⁺ binding to calmodulin and thereby modulate calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide signaling within joint and other affected tissue for the purpose of reducing pain and inflammation, as well as enhancing the healing and regeneration of such tissue.

Claims

1. A lightweight, wearable, battery-operated EMF therapy system for treating degenerative joint disease, the system comprising:

a flexible coil wire applicator coupled to a battery-operated EMF therapy microcontroller within a lightweight, wearable housing;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of less than about 200 milliGauss, wherein the bursts have a duration of between about 0.5 msec and about 50 msec, further wherein the bursts are repeated at an interburst interval of between about 10 seconds and 0.1 second for a treatment on-time of between about 5 minutes and 30 minutes, followed by a treatment off-time that is greater than about 30 minutes; and

an orthotic configured to secure the applicator over a body joint.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the applicator is integrated into the orthotic.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the applicator is embedded within a skin-contacting portion of the orthotic.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the orthotic is a knee brace.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the orthotic is a back brace.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the orthotic is a hip brace.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the applicator is attached to the applicator is removeably coupled to the orthotic.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply an automatic treatment regimen having a treatment on-time of between about 5 minutes and 30 minutes, followed by a treatment off-time that is greater than about 30 minutes.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply an automatic treatment regimen having a treatment on-time of between about 15 minutes and 30 minutes, followed by a treatment off-time that is greater than about 30 minutes.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply an automatic treatment regimen having a treatment on-time of between about 5 minutes and 30 minutes, followed by a treatment off-time that is between about 30 minutes and 23 hours.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of 6.8 MHz sinusoidal electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of about 50 milliGauss, wherein the duration of the burst is about 7 msec, and bursts repeat approximately every second.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of 27.12 MHz sinusoidal electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of about 50 milliGauss.

13. A lightweight, wearable, battery-operated EMF therapy system for treating degenerative joint disease, the system comprising:

a flexible coil wire applicator coupled to a battery-operated EMF therapy microcontroller within a lightweight, wearable housing;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of less than about 200 milliGauss, wherein the bursts have a duration of between about 0.5 msec and about 50 msec, further wherein the bursts are repeated at an interburst interval of between about 2 seconds and 0.1 second for a treatment on-time, followed by a treatment off-time that is greater than the treatment on-time;

timing circuitry in the microcontroller wherein the timing circuitry is configured to automatically repeat delivery of the electromagnetic waves and periods of off-time; and

an orthotic configured to secure the applicator over a body joint.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the applicator is integrated into the orthotic.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the applicator is embedded within a skin-contacting portion of the orthotic.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the orthotic is a knee brace.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the orthotic is a back brace.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the orthotic is a hip brace.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the applicator is attached to the applicator is removeably coupled to the orthotic.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of 6.8 MHz sinusoidal electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of about 50 milliGauss.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of 27.12 MHz sinusoidal electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of about 50 milliGauss.

22. A lightweight, wearable, battery-operated EMF therapy system for treating degenerative joint disease, the system comprising:

a flexible coil wire applicator coupled to a battery-operated EMF therapy microcontroller within a lightweight, wearable housing;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of less than about 200 milliGauss, wherein the bursts have a duration of between about 0.5 msec and about 50 msec, further wherein the bursts are repeated at an interburst interval of between about 2 seconds and 0.1 second for a treatment on-time, followed by a treatment off-time that is greater than the treatment on-time;

timing circuitry in the microcontroller wherein the timing circuitry is configured to automatically repeat delivery of the electromagnetic waves and periods of off-time; and

a housing surrounding the microcontroller that is configured to be coupled to an orthotic.