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European Patent Office © Publication number: 0 1 8 1 0 5 3 Office europeen des brevets f i £

© EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

© Application number: 85303733.1 © Int. CI.4: A 61 N 1 /42

© Date of filing: 28.0S.85

© Priority: 12.09.84 US 649706

© Date of publication of application : 14.05.86 Bulletin 86/20

© Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE FR GB U LU NL SE

© Applicant: IRT, INC. P.O. Box 61 Haines Oregon(US)

© Inventor: WaHonen, James R. P.O. Box 61 Haines Oregon(US)

© Inventor: Bauer, Larry L. 1320 Walnut Baker Oregon(US)

© Representative: Wombwell, Francis et al. Potts, Kerr & Co. 15, Hamilton Square Birkenhead MerseysWe L41 6BR(GB)

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@ Pulse electro-magnetic field therapy device with auto biased circuit and method for use. A method of treating animal tissue with a time-varying, magnetic field and a device for producing such a field wherein a substantially unipolar, rectangular electro- magnetic treatment signal having pulses of a predetermined frequency and amplitude is generated. The signal is trans- mitted to a coil wherein it induces a magnetic flux. The magnetic flux so produced is applied to a treatment site to promote healing of tissue. A biasing circuit is provided in the device to prevent the occurrence of a reverse polarity pulse upon the fall of the magnetic flux induced by the fall of the generated pulse and to diminish high frequency ringing at the beginning of a treatment signal.

B a c k g r o u n d a n d Summary of the I n v e n t i o n

The p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n p e r t a i n s to a m a g n e t i c - f i e l d -

p r o d u c i n g t h e r a p y d e v i c e for t r e a t i n g an imal t i s s u e s wi th a t i m e -

v a r y i n g magne t i c f i e l d . S p e c i f i c a l l y , the t h e r a p y d e v i c e of t h e

i n s t a n t i n v e n t i o n g e n e r a t e s a s u b s t a n t i a l l y only u n i p o l a r

e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c p u l s e which a s s i s t s a p a t i e n t ' s b o d i l y h e a l i n g

mechan i sm, t h e r e b y p r o m o t i n g f a s t e r h e a l i n g of broken bones a n d

e n h a n c e m e n t of c i r c u l a t o r y d e f i c i e n c i e s .

The use of e l e c t r i c a l ene rgy to p roduce m o d i f i c a t i o n s

in l i v i n g t i s s u e is wel l known. E l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c d e v i c e s h a v e

been used to promote h e a l i n g of broken bones . A. T. B a r k e r , The

Des ign of a C l i n i c a l E l e c t r o - M a q n e t i c Bone S t i m u l a t o r , C l i n i c a l

P h y s i c a l P h y s i o l o g y M e a s u r e m e n t , F e b r u a r y , 1981, Volume I I , No.

1, Pages 9-16. A d d i t i o n a l l y , use of p u l s e d e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c

f i e l d s (PEMF) to promote h e a l i n g of bone t i s s u e is d e s c r i b e d i n

U.S. P a t e n t No. 4 , 3 1 5 , 5 0 3 to Ryaby, et a l . and in U.S. P a t e n t

No. 3 , 8 9 0 , 9 5 3 to Kraus , et a l .

Use of e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c energy to a r r e s t a r t h r i t i c

pain has been d i s c l o s e d in U.S. P a t e n t No. 3 , 9 0 2 , 5 0 2 to L i s s , e t

a l .

A r e a d i n g of the r a t h e r e x t e n s i v e l i t e r a t u r e in t h e

f i e l d of e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c t r e a t m e n t t e a c h e s t h a t t h e r e is l i t t l e

a g r e e m e n t amongst r e s e a r c h e r s in the f i e l d as to the m o s t

e f f e c t i v e pu l se w a v e f o r m , f r e q u e n c y , and v o l t a g e l e v e l f o r

t r e a t m e n t of t i s s u e d i s o r d e r s . Wi thout d e l v i n g i n to the m e r i t s

of one t r e a t m e n t method over the o t h e r , the p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n

r e l a t e s to an e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c - f i e l d - p r o d u c i n g t h e r a p y d e v i c e

which g e n e r a t e s a s u b s t a n t i a l l y r e c t a n g u l a r , u n i p o l a r , e l e c t r o -

m a g n e t i c pulse of a p r e d e t e r m i n e d f r e q u e n c y and a m p l i t u d e and

which i n c l u d e s a b i a s i n g means for p r e v e n t i n g g e n e r a t i o n of a

t r a n s i e n t n e g a t i v e p u l s e when a p o s i t i v e , u n i p o l a r p u l s e

c o l l a p s e s at the end of a du ty c y c l e . The b i a s i n g means a l s o

s u b s t a n t i a l l y e l i m i n a t e s high f r e q u e n c y r i n g i n g at the b e g i n n i n g

of a t r e a t m e n t p u l s e . A method of t r e a t i n g an imal t i s s u e s w i t h

a t i m e - v a r y i n g , e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c f i e l d and a p p a r a t u s f o r

c a r r y i n g out the method are t a u g h t . The method i n v o l v e s

g e n e r a t i n g p u l s e s in a f r e q u e n c y r ange of 1-100 h e r t z at a n

a m p l i t u d e of 1-15 v o l t s .

A b a s i c p r e m i s e of the t e a c h i n g is t h a t a n e g a t i v e

pulse or sp ike which may form upon the c o l l a p s e of a p o s i t i v e

e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c f i e l d has a d e t r i m e n t a l e f f e c t on the h e a l i n g

which is sought to be p romo ted by the a p p l i c a t i o n of the e l e c t r o -

magne t i c p u l s e . Use of PEMF d e v i c e s to p romote v a s o -

c o n s t r i c t i o n has no t been s u c c e s s f u l due to the p r e s e n c e of h i g h -

f r e q u e n c y r i n g i n g a t the b e g i n n i n g of a d e v i c e duty c y c l e .

An o b j e c t of the i n v e n t i o n is to p r o v i d e a method o f

t r e a t i n g animal t i s s u e w i t h a t i m e - v a r y i n g m a g n e t i c f i e l d ,

where in the f i e l d is g e n e r a t e d by a s u b s t a n t i a l l y r e c t a n g u l a r ,

u n i p o l a r e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c p u l s e which is p a s s e d t h r o u g h a

magne t i c c o i l w h e r e i n the c o i l is b i a s e d to p r e v e n t t h e

o c c u r r e n c e of a r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y p u l s e upon the decay of t h e

g e n e r a t e d f i e l d .

Another o b j e c t of the i n v e n t i o n is to p r o v i d e a d e v i c e

which w i l l g e n e r a t e a m a g n e t i c f i e l d and which i n c l u d e s

c i r c u i t r y to p r e v e n t g e n e r a t i o n of a t r a n s i e n t r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y

pu l se upon the c o l l a p s e of the g e n e r a t e d f i e l d .

A f u r t h e r o b j e c t of the i n v e n t i o n is to p r o v i d e a

dev ice which w i l l be e f f e c t i v e to form an e l e c t r o n i c ice pack by

a c t i n g as a v a s o - c o n s t r i c t o r .

In the p r e f e r r e d embodiment , a t r e a t m e n t p u l s e

g e n e r a t o r c o n t r o l s the f r e q u e n c y of m a g n e t i c p u l s e s which a r e

t r a n s m i t t e d to a p a t i e n t u n d e r g o i n g t r e a t m e n t . C i r c u i t r y i s

p r o v i d e d such t h a t the i n i t i a l f r e q u e n c y is ten t imes t h a t o f

the u l t i m a t e t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l f r e q u e n c y , t h e r e b y a l l o w i n g f o r

s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n s t a n t a n e o u s a d j u s t m e n t of t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l

f r e q u e n c y . This is p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i r a b l e when the d e v i c e

o u t p u t is in very low f r e q u e n c y r a n g e s , i . e . 0 . 1 - 2 0 h e r t z . A

b i a s i n g c i r c u i t is p r o v i d e d in the d e v i c e which i n d u c e s an

e l e c t r i c a l c u r r e n t of the same p o l a r i t y as the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l

t h r o u g h the t r e a t m e n t c o i l s , t h e r e b y a b s o r b i n g any r e v e r s e

p o l a r i t y s p i k e s which may be g e n e r a t e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h

c o l l a p s e of the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l g e n e r a t e d f i e l d .

These and o t h e r o b j e c t s and a d v a n t a g e s of the i n s t a n t

i n v e n t i o n and the method w i l l become more f u l l y a p p a r e n t as t h e

d e s c r i p t i o n which f o l l o w s is read in c o n j u n c t i o n wi th t h e

d r a w i n g s .

D e s c r i p t i o n of the D r a w i n g s

Fig . 1 is a b lock d iag ram of the m a g n e t i c - f i e l d -

p r o d u c i n g t h e r a p y d e v i c e of the i n s t a n t i n v e n t i o n .

Fig . 2 is a s c h e m a t i c d i ag ram of a b i a s i n g c i r c u i t

i n c o r p o r a t e d in to the t h e r a p y d e v i c e .

Fig. 3 is an i l l u s t r a t i o n of wave forms p roduced and

induced by the d e v i c e w i t h o u t an o p e r a t i o n a l b i a s i n g c i r c u i t .

F ig . 4 is an i l l u s t r a t i o n of wave forms p roduced a n d

induced by the d e v i c e wi th a b i a s i n g c i r c u i t o p e r a t i n g .

D e t a i l e d D e s c r i p t i o n of the D r a w i n g s

Turn ing f i r s t to Fig . 1, a b lock d i a g r a m of a m a g n e t i c -

f i e l d - p r o d u c i n g t h e r a p y d e v i c e made a c c o r d i n g to t h i s i n v e n t i o n

is shown g e n e r a l l y at 10. Device 10 i n c l u d e s a p u l s e g e n e r a t o r

12. A s i g n a l from g e n e r a t o r 12 goes to f r e q u e n c y c o u n t e r 14

where i t is compared wi th a s i g n a l from a t ime base g e n e r a t o r

16. F r e q u e n c y c o u n t e r 14 t r a n s m i t s a s i g n a l to a f r e q u e n c y

d i s p l a y 18, which is a d i g i t a l d i s p l a y in the p r e f e r r e d

e m b o d i m e n t .

The f r e q u e n c y of the s i g n a l g e n e r a t e d by p u l s e

g e n e r a t o r 12 is a d j u s t a b l e , and in the p r e f e r r e d e m b o d i m e n t , i s

g e n e r a t e d at ten t imes the d e s i r e d o u t p u t f r e q u e n c y . I t i s

t h e r e f o r e n e c e s s a r y to p r o v i d e means for d i v i d i n g the f r e q u e n c y

p roduced by g e n e r a t o r 12 to a u s a b l e , t r e a t m e n t f r e q u e n c y . T h i s

is a c c o m p l i s h e d by a f r e q u e n c y d i v i d e r 20. The s i g n a l e x i t s

d i v i d e r 20 and e n t e r s du ty cyc le c o n t r o l 2 2 .

Two s i g n a l s e x i t the duty c y c l e c o n t r o l . An u p d a t e

s i g n a l is t r a n s m i t t e d to a d i g i t a l v o l t me te r 24. A t r e a t m e n t

s i g n a l , of a d e s i r e d t r e a t m e n t f r e q u e n c y , and of a known

r e l a t i o n to the f r e q u e n c y of the s i g n a l g e n e r a t e d by g e n e r a t o r

12, is t r a n s m i t t e d to an a m p l i f i e r 26. A m p l i f i e r 26 i s

c o n n e c t e d to a t i m e r 28 which c o n t r o l s the d u r a t i o n of a

t r e a t m e n t . Timer 28 may a l so be t h o u g h t of as an o f f / o n s w i t c h .

The t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l l e a v i n g a m p l i f i e r 26 i s

t r a n s m i t t e d to d i g i t a l v o l t meter 24 and to a c o i l means, o r ,

t r e a t m e n t c o i l , 3 0 .

D i g i t a l v o l t me te r 24 t r a n s m i t s a s i g n a l to v o l t a g e

d i s p l a y 32. Thus f r e q u e n c y d i s p l a y 18 and v o l t a g e d i s p l a y 32

p r o v i d e comp le t e i n f o r m a t i o n as to the f r e q u e n c y and v o l t a g e

( a m p l i t u d e ) of p u l s e s be ing t r a n s m i t t e d to the t r e a t m e n t c o i l .

The componen t s 12 to 28 and 32 c o m p r i s e what i s

r e f e r r e d to h e r e i n as p u l s e s i g n a l g e n e r a t i n g m e a n s .

A b i a s i n g c i r c u i t 34 p r o v i d e s a m a i n t e n a n c e s i g n a l t o

t r e a t m e n t c o i l 30 at such t i m e s as the p o l a r i t y of the s i g n a l i n

l i n e 31 r e v e r s e s from t h a t of the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l t r a n s m i t t e d

by a m p l i f i e r 2 6 .

T u r n i n g now to F ig . 2, b i a s i n g c i r c u i t 34 is shown i n

s c h e m a t i c form. As the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l l e a v e s a m p l i f i e r 2 6 ,

the s i g n a l is r o u t e d t h r o u g h l i n e 31 and c i r c u i t 34. A d iode 36

a l l o w s the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l to e n t e r the c i r c u i t when the s i g n a l

is at a h igh l e v e l . The s i g n a l c h a r g e s c a p a c i t o r 38 and t h e

r e m a i n d e r p a s s e s to v a r i a b l e p o t e n t i o m e t e r 40. The s i g n a l i s

then fed i n t o op amp 42, which has a f e e d b a c k loop 44 a s s o c i a t e d

t h e r e w i t h . The s i g n a l next p a s s e s t h r o u g h D a r l i n g t o n - c o n f i g u r e d

t r a n s i s t o r s 46 and 48, which t o g e t h e r act as a s e r i e s p a s s

a m p l i f i e r , p r o v i d i n g a b u f f e r be tween the op amp and t r e a t m e n t

c o i l 3 0 .

C a p a c i t o r s 50 and 52 ac t as n o i s e s u p p r e s s o r s ,

p r e v e n t i n g the b i a s i n g c i r c u i t from a c t i n g as an o s c i l l a t o r .

In use , pu l se g e n e r a t o r 12 i n i t i a t e s a t r e a t m e n t p u l s e

c y c l e . The f r e q u e n c y of t h i s c y c l e is a d j u s t a b l e and t h e

f r e q u e n c y , d i v i d e d by a known r e l a t i o n to the o r i g i n a l l y

g e n e r a t e d f r e q u e n c y , is u l t i m a t e l y d i s p l a y e d on d i s p l a y 18. The

f r e q u e n c y of p u l s e s g e n e r a t e d by g e n e r a t o r 12 is d i v i d e d by a

f a c t o r of 10, in the p r e f e r r e d embod imen t , by f r e q u e n c y d i v i d e r

20. A m p l i f i e r 26 may be v a r i e d to a d j u s t the v o l t a g e w h i c h

u l t i m a t e l y r e a c h e s the t r e a t m e n t c o i l and t h i s v a l u e i s

d i s p l a y e d by v o l t a g e d i s p l a y 32. The s i g n a l which is p r o d u c e d

by g e n e r a t o r 12 is a s u b s t a n t i a l l y u n i p o l a r - r e c t a n g u l a r wave i n

the f r e q u e n c y range of 1-100 h e r t z . F r e q u e n c y d i v i d e r 20 c a u s e s

the o u t p u t s i g n a l to range from 0.1 h e r t z to 100 h e r t z .

A l though the dev ice is c a p a b l e of p r o d u c i n g a much h i g h e r

f r e q u e n c y , i t has been found t h a t t r e a t m e n t s c o n d u c t e d w i t h

p u l s e s in the f r e q u e n c y range of 1-100 h e r t z are most b e n e f i c i a l

p r o m o t i n g h e a l i n g of an imal t i s s u e d e f e c t s sough t to be

t r e a t e d . The d e v i c e may be used as an e l e c t r o n i c ice pack f o r

v a s o - c o n s t r i c t i o n with f r e q u e n c y s e t t i n g s of 0.1 to 5 h e r t z .

As p r e v i o u s l y s t a t e d , the d e v i c e of the i n s t a n t

i n v e n t i o n is based on the p r emi se t h a t a u n i p o l a r e l e c t r o -

m a g n e t i c p u l s e is the most e f f e c t i v e t h e r a p e u t i c wave form. To

t h i s end, the d e v i c e g e n e r a t e s a t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l which c o n s i s t s

s o l e l y of p o s i t i v e p o r t i o n s of the r e c t a n g u l a r s i g n a l . This i s

r e f e r r e d to h e r e i n as a u n i p o l a r p u l s e . Duty c y c l e c o n t r o l 22.

c auses the d e v i c e to have a 50% duty c y c l e , t h e r e b y r e s u l t i n g i n

a s u b s t a n t i a l l y s q u a r e , u n i p o l a r p u l s e d t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l . O t h e r

duty c y c l e s may of c o u r s e be u s e d .

The a m p l i f i e r has the c a p a b i l i t y of d e l i v e r i n g h i g h

v o l t a g e at up to 15 amps, however , the o u t p u t is g e n e r a l l y i n

the range of 0 . 1 -15 v o l t s , with the most e f f e c t i v e v o l t a g e s

being in the range of 5 . 7 5 - 1 2 . 5 v o l t s . Such a v o l t a g e r a n g e

r e s u l t s in a m a g n e t i c f l u x l e v e l of 4-22 gauss at the c o i l .

Fig 3a r e p r e s e n t s a 15 h e r t z s i g n a l measu red in l i n e

31. As each u n i p o l a r p u l s e r e a c h e s the t r e a t m e n t c o i l , an

e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c f i e l d is p r o d u c e d . As the p u l s e t e r m i n a t e s ,

the e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c f i e l d c o l l a p s e s . This n o r m a l l y r e s u l t s i n

a n e g a t i v e or r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y sp ike as is i l l u s t r a t e d a t 5 4 .

Fig. 3b r e p r e s e n t s the wave form as i nduced in a s e n s i n g c o i l by

the magne t i c f i e l d g e n e r a t e d in c o i l 30 by the p u l s e d t r e a t m e n t

s i g n a l shown in Fig. 3a. R e f e r r i n g s t i l l to F i g . 3 b , a s - . a

s t e a d y s t a t e is r e a c h e d , at 56, the wave a p p r o a c h e s the g r o u n d

or r e f e r e n c e l i n e . Upon i n i t i a t i o n of a t r e a t m e n t p u l s e , t h e

induced pu l se i n i t i a l l y is formed as a r a t h e r l a r g e n e g a t i v e

impulse 58 which is i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w e d by a p o s i t i v e sp ike 60 .

This r i n g i n g o s c i l l a t e s for a p p r o x i m a t e l y 150 m i c r o s e c o n d s a s

d e p i c t e d in Fig. 3c. As the r i n g i n g s u b s i d e s , the i n d u c e d

v o l t a g e d rops off as d e p i c t e d by the curve at 62. When t h e

t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l c e a s e s , the i nduced v o l t a g e i n s t a n t l y d r o p s , a s

shown at 64. The induced v o l t a g e g r a d u a l l y r e t u r n s to a n e a r -

s t e a d y s t a t e , as shown at 66, p r i o r to the nex t t r e a t m e n t p u l s e

be ing g e n e r a t e d .

The i n c l u s i o n of the b i a s i n g c i r c u i t r e s u l t s in t h e

s i g n a l form in l i n e 31 shown in Fig . 4a. A m a i n t e n a n c e s i g n a l

of the same p o l a r i t y as the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l is t r a n s m i t t e d t o

t r e a t m e n t c o i l 30 when a r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y s i g n a l is p r e s e n t i n

l i n e 31, as the r e s u l t of the c o l l a p s e of the f i e l d abou t c o i l

30. B i a s i n g c i r c u i t 34 p r o v i d e s a smal l v o l t a g e , on the o r d e r

of 0.2 v o l t s to c o i l 30 when the g e n e r a t o r means is in a n o n -

duty c y c l e . As the duty c y c l e ends , the f i e l d a b o u t c o i l 30

c o l l a p s e s , r e s u l t i n g in a r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y s i g n a l in l i n e 3 1 .

The p r e s e n c e of such a s i g n a l in l i n e 31 " t r i g g e r s " c i r c u i t 34

to t r a n s m i t a s i g n a l component of the same p o l a r i t y as t h e

t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l i n to l i n e 34, t h e r e b y o f f s e t t i n g the r e v e r s e

p o l a r i t y s i g n a l p r e s e n t in the l i n e . The m a i n t e n a n c e s i g n a l

s l i g h t l y e l e v a t e s the wave form above the r e f e r e n c e l i n e , a s

d e p i c t e d in Fig. 4a at 68, as opposed to n e g a t i v e s p i k e 54

d e p i c t e d in Fig. 3 a .

The wave form d e p i c t e d in Fig. 4b which is i nduced i n

a s e n s i n g c o i l by c o i l 30 when the b i a s i n g c i r c u i t is i n

o p e r a t i o n , has s p i k e s , as shown at 70, 72, but does not e x h i b i t

the e x t r e m e s p i k e s , such as 58 and 60 d e p i c t e d in F ig . 3b, a s

when the b i a s i n g c i r c u i t is not o p e r a t i n g . A l t h o u g h a h i g h

f r e q u e n c y r i ng s t i l l o c c u r s at the peak, the r i n g has a much

s m a l l e r a m p l i t u d e , as d e p i c t e d in Fig. 4c, than does the r i n g

g e n e r a t e d by a n o n - b i a s e d s i g n a l , and more i m p o r t a n t , has o n l y

one r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y s p i k e , as shown at 70. The d u r a t i o n of t h e

r ing is p r o p o r t i o n a l to the t r e a t m e n t f r e q u e n c y .

The s t r e n g t h of the m a i n t e n a n c e s i g n a l is d e t e r m i n e d

by the b i a s i n g c i r c u i t , and s p e c i f i c a l l y by the s e t t i n g o n

v a r i a b l e p o t e n t i o m e t e r 40. P o t e n t i o m e t e r 40 is c a l i b r a t e d i n

terms of d e v i c e o u t p u t , from 0 to 100%. I f , for i n s t a n c e ,

p o t e n t i o m e t e r 40 is a d j u s t e d to a va lue of 20% of d e v i c e o u t p u t ,

a m a i n t e n a n c e s i g n a l 20% the s t r e n g t h of the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l

w i l l be fed to c o i l 30 when the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l t e r m i n a t e s and

the m a g n e t i c f i e l d c o l l a p s e s . A m a i n t e n a n c e s i g n a l 20% t h e

va lue of the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l has been found to e l i m i n a t e a n y

n e g a t i v e v a l u e , or n e g a t i v e s p i k e , g e n e r a t e d by the c o l l a p s e o f

m a g n e t i c f i e l d abou t t r e a t m e n t and c o i l 3 0 .

A s p e c i f i c use of the d e v i c e and method of t h e

i n v e n t i o n is e x e m p l i f i e d by a t r e a t m e n t which may be a p p l i e d t o

an an imal l imb which has , for i n s t a n c e , s u f f e r e d a b r u i s e . The

d e v i c e may be used to form an e l e c t r o n i c ice pack . As

p r e v i o u s l y m e n t i o n e d , known PEMF d e v i c e s have not been able t o

promote v a s o - c o n s t r i c t i o n due to high f r e q u e n c y wave forms w h i c h

occur d u r i n g the r i n g i n g at the b e g i n n i n g of the t r e a t m e n t

p u l s e . A s p e c i f i c c o i l , formed of 329 t u r n s of 22 gauge w i r e ,

may be a p p l i e d to a t r e a t m e n t s i t e and a v o l t a g e of 12.5 v o l t s

a p p l i e d . With a f r e q u e n c y s e t t i n g of 3 h e r t z , the c o i l w i l l

p roduce 22 gauss at the t r e a t m e n t s i t e . This t e c h n i q u e has b e e n

found to p roduce s u f f i c i e n t v a s o - c o n s t r i c t i o n to r e d u c e t h e

s e v e r i t y of b r u i s i n g . The same c o i l and v o l t a g e s e t t i n g s , when

used wi th a f r e q u e n c y of 15 h e r t z would be e f f e c t i v e to t r e a t

s o f t c o l l a g e n t i s s u e damage. V a r i o u s c o m b i n a t i o n s of wire s i z e ,

t u rns and v o l t a g e s may be u t i l i z e d , t h e r e b y p r o d u c i n g m a g n e t i c

f lux of 0-60 gauss at c o i l means 3 0 .

While a p r e f e r r e d embodiment of the i n v e n t i o n has b e e n

d e s c r i b e d , i t is a p p r e c i a t e of the v a r i a t i o n s and m o d i f i c a t i o n s

may be made w i t h o u t d e p a r t i n g from the s p i r i t of the i n v e n t i o n .

1. A m a g n e t i c - f i e l d - p r o d u c i n g t h e r a p y d e v i c e f o r

t r e a t i n g an imal t i s s u e s wi th a u n i - d i r e c t i o n a l , t i m e - v a r y i n g

m a g n e t i c f i e l d c o m p r i s i n g p u l s e s i g n a l g e n e r a t i n g means f o r

g e n e r a t i n g a t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l c h a r a c t e r i z e d as h a v i n g

s u b s t a n t i a l l y u n i p o l a r , r e c t a n g u l a r e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c p u l s e s of a

known p o l a r i t y at a p r e d e t e r m i n e d f r e q u e n c y and of a

p r e d e t e r m i n e d a m p l i t u d e r e l a t i v e to a r e f e r e n c e l e v e l , b i a s i n g

means o p e r a t i v e l y j o i n e d to s a i d g e n e r a t i n g means, f o r

p r o d u c i n g , when the t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l is of a r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y , a

s i g n a l component o f f s e t t i n g the r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y p o r t i o n of s a i d

t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l , and c o i l means o p e r a t i v e l y j o i n e d to s a i d

g e n e r a t i n g means for p r o d u c i n g a c o n c e n t r a t e d m a g n e t i c f lux f r o m

sa id t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l for use in a p p l y i n g the f l ux so p r o d u c e d

to t i s s u e u n d e r g o i n g t h e r a p y at a t r e a t m e n t s i t e .

2. The t h e r a p y d e v i c e of c la im 1 w h e r e i n s a i d

t r e a t m e n t s i g n a l has a f i f t y p e r c e n t duty c y c l e .

3. T h e t h e r a p y d e v i c e of c l a im 1 w h e r e i n s a i d

g e n e r a t i n g means i n c l u d e s a m p l i t u d e a d j u s t m e n t means f o r

a d j u s t i n g the p r e d e t e r m i n e d a m p l i t u d e s of the u n i p o l a r p u l s e s .

4. The t h e r a p y d e v i c e of c la im 3 w h e r e i n s a i d

a m p l i t u d e a d j u s t m e n t means is a d j u s t a b l e to va ry t h e

p r e d e t e r m i n e d a m p l i t u d e be tween 0 .1 -15 v o l t s .

5. The t h e r a p y d e v i c e of c la im 3 w h e r e i n sa id c o i l

means and g e n e r a t i n g means a re c o o p e r a t i v e l y c o n s t r u c t e d s u c h

t h a t s a i d c o i l means p r o d u c e s a m a g n e t i c f lux of 0 to 60 g a u s s .

6. The t h e r a p y d e v i c e of c l a im 3 whe re in s a i d

g e n e r a t i n g means f u r t h e r i n c l u d e s an a d j u s t a b l e p u l s e g e n e r a t o r

for g e n e r a t i n g an o u t p u t s i g n a l hav ing p u l s e s with a

c o n t r o l l a b l y v a r i a b l e known f r e q u e n c y , f r e q u e n c y r e a d o u t means

o p e r a t i v e l y j o i n e d to s a id g e n e r a t o r for d i s p l a y i n g a f r e q u e n c y

v a l u e h a v i n g a known r e l a t i o n to the known f r e q u e n c y , a n d

f r e q u e n c y d i v i d e r means o p e r a t i v e l y i n t e r p o s e d sa id g e n e r a t o r

and s a id a m p l i t u d e a d j u s t m e n t means for p r o d u c i n g , in r e s p o n s e

to sa id o u t p u t s i g n a l , a lower f r e q u e n c y s i g n a l hav ing p u l s e s

with a f r e q u e n c y equa l to the known f r e q u e n c y m u l t i p l i e d by t h e

p r e v i o u s l y - m e n t i o n e d known r e l a t i o n .

7. The t h e r a p y d e v i c e of c l a im 6 whe re in s a i d p u l s e

g e n e r a t o r is a d j u s t a b l e to vary the p r e d e t e r m i n e d f r e q u e n c y o f

the u n i p o l a r p u l s e s between 0 . 1 - 1 0 0 h e r t z .

8. A method of t r e a t i n g an imal t i s s u e wi th a t i m e -

v a r y i n g , p u l s e d e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c f i e l d c o m p r i s i n g g e n e r a t i n g a

s i g n a l c h a r a c t e r i z e d as hav ing s u b s t a n t i a l l y u n i p o l a r ,

r e c t a n g u l a r e l e c t r o - m a g n e t i c p u l s e s of a p r e d e t e r m i n e d

f r e q u e n c y , p r o d u c i n g a t i m e - v a r y i n g m a g n e t i c f l u x by e n e r g i z i n g

a c o i l wi th the g e n e r a t e d s i g n a l , d u r i n g sa id e n e r g i z i n g , when

the s i g n a l i s - o f a r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y , b i a s i n g the c o i l wi th a

s i g n a l componen t o f f s e t t i n g the r e v e r s e p o l a r i t y , and a p p l y i n g

the m a g n e t i c f l ux to a t r e a t m e n t s i t e .

9. The method of c l a im 8 whe re in the g e n e r a t e d

s i g n a l s have a f r e q u e n c y in the r ange of 0.1 to 100 h e r t z .

10. The method of c l a im 8 where in the g e n e r a t e d

p u l s e s have a m p l i t u d e s in the range of 0.1 to 15 v o l t s .

11. The method of c l a im 8 whe re in the g e n e r a t e d

s i g n a l is b i a s e d to m a i n t a i n a p o s i t i v e v o l t a g e a c r o s s the c o i l .

12. The method of c l a im 8 where in the g e n e r a t e d

p u l s e s g e n e r a l l y have a duty c y c l e o f f i f t y p e r c e n t .