Surgery – Magnetic field applied to body for therapy – Electromagnetic coil
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2002-09-10
Winakur, Eric F. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Magnetic field applied to body for therapy
Electromagnetic coil
C128S898000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06447440
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of tissue disorders and/or disorders of tissue and joints in the area of a patient's head, particularly the jaw, neck or ears, using one or more electromagnetic fields.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The application of an electromagnetic field for the treatment of chronic disorders of the locomotor system, such as the joints, ligaments and back, is known in principle. Such disorders include, for example, arthroses, i.e. degenerative joint trouble, as well as tendinoses, degenerative ligamentary and tendinous trouble, rheumatic disorders, such as inflammatory disorders of the joints, and acute injuries caused by sports-related or industrial accidents.
In this way, the Applicant's patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,94 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,07, for example, show an apparatus for the application of an electromagnetic field in order to treat inflammatory or degenerative disorders of the joints, especially arthrosis.
An organ of the body to be treated, such as a limb, a section of the spinal column, an elbow or knee joint, is placed inside an annular coil. Because the organ of the body is to be treated is arranged in this way within the aperture of the annular coil, it is possible to transfer an electromagnetic field induced by the annular coil to the organ of the body to be treated. The healing process within the affected organ of the body can be promoted by the applied electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field causes endogenous regeneration to be stimulated and cartilage or connective tissue in the diseased organ of the body to be continuously regenerated.
It has, however, also been shown that diseased tissue or joints of the area of a patient's head cannot be effectively treated using the known apparatus. In this way, specific treatment of atrophy of the periodontal tissue, i.e., gums, alveolar periosteum and alveolar bone, or arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint or tinnitus cannot be effectively performed because it is extremely difficult for the head area to be treated to be positioned correctly within the annular coil such that the electromagnetic field is selectively applied only to the targeted site of treatment. The known apparatus, therefore, cannot be used for the effective treatment of specific disorders of the area of the head, such as periodontosis or arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint or tinnitus, not to mention the area of the throat and neck, such as whiplash injuries, muscle strains and degenerative trouble.
As stated, in the treatment of tinnitus and other conditions of the ear, for which the pulsed magnetic therapy of the Markoll patents have been found to be significantly effective, the use of the annular coil is not practicable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of these drawbacks and remaining problems associated with the apparatus know in the prior art, the present invention is based upon the object of providing an apparatus which ensures with minimum structural design outlay a systematic and effective application of at least one electromagnetic field to tissue to be treated and/or to a joint or joints to be treated in the area of a patient's head, including the ears, jaw or neck.
This object is solved by an apparatus according to the invention comprising the features of claim
1
.
According to the invention, the apparatus for the treatment of tissue disorders and/or arthropathies in the area of a patient's head, including the ears, jaw or neck, particularly for the treatment of periodontosis, TMJ and tinnitus, comprises a housing which surrounds in an ergonomically beneficial manner at least the area of the head, including the ears, jaw or neck to be treated. It is, therefore, possible to place the housing on the patient's head very close to or directly over the ears, tissue and/or temporomandibular joint to be treated.
The housing, according to the invention, is made from any suitable material, though particularly from plastic, e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, or a suitable metal, e.g. aluminum. The use of plastic ensures a particularly lightweight structure for the housing. Savings can also be achieved in terms of the housing's weight and material by designing the housing to have a shell-shaped structure. Advantages in terms of production technique are also obtained by designing the housing according to the invention as a molded plastic part.
A number of coils is also arranged within the housing; these coils generate at least one electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field or fields induced in the coils is or are applied to the area to be treated, whereby the healing process in the organ tissue or joint to be treated can be stimulated by the electromagnetic field energy. As far as the patient is concerned, the electromagnetic field is applied at the center of treatment completely without pain, without having to operate at the treatment site. The individual coils are also accommodated within the housing such that they are reliably supported and secured inside the housing.
As a result of this layout, the coils are positioned in the housing in a manner that protects them from outside effects or influences, such as impacts, dirt accumulation or tampering. The size of the housing depends on the expansion and number of the coils disposed therein and is dimensioned to be at least so large that all the coils can be completely received therein.
The treatment apparatus described not only makes it possible to provide in a simple and effective manner a housing shape that is adapted to the shape of the jaw and neck and which is consequently very beneficial in ergonomic terms, but also allows the electromagnetic fields generated by the individual magnetic coils to be systematically applied to different areas of the head, since the coils located inside the housing can be guided very close to the center of treatment and directly placed there.
The provision of a number of coils always ensures that at least one coil ends up over the respective center of treatment in the ear, jaw or neck area. According to the invention, the distance between the respective treatment center and the particular coil closest thereto is reduced to a minimum. As a result, the flux lines of the electromagnetic field or fields must travel only a very short path to the treatment site. The strength and intensity of the electromagnetic fields generated in the coils is therefore almost completely maintained at the site of treatment, ensuring a particularly effective application of the electromagnetic field to the diseased tissue or joint. Compared with conventional apparatus in which large surface areas of an organ of the body are subjected to the electromagnetic field, the magnetic field's flux lines can therefore be selectively aligned with the periodontal tissue, temporomandibular joint, ear or nuchal musculature and systematically applied there.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the further claims.
According to an advantageous design feature of the invention, the housing has a U-shaped contour. Designing the housing to the U-shaped advantageously adapts the housing to the outer contour of the patient's head in the area of the jaw and neck. In the case of periodontosis treatment, the patient's head is arranged between the two arms or shanks of the U-shaped housing so that the housing extends substantially along the outer contour of the jaw from one temporomandibular joint to the other and across the front of the head. When treating trouble in the ear area, the neck area, e.g. whiplash injuries, muscle strains or degenerative trouble, on the other hand, the housing is arranged at the rear of the head, preferably from behind the head particularly in the case of ear treatment, with the two arms of the U-shaped housing substantially encompassing the neck area and partial areas of the patient's head. The distance between both the shanks of the housing is chosen such that the head of a patient can be comfortably placed bet
Bio-Magnetic Therapy Systems Inc.
Dallet Hoopes
Veniaminov Nikita R
Winakur Eric F.
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