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 transmitted 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.

Methods and apparatus for inhibiting the adverse effect of an ambient time varying field having an electric component and/or a magnetic component on a living system. To provide protection, the field to which the system is exposed is caused to be one wherein at least one of the characteristic parameters of said field to which the living system is exposed is changed within time intervals of less than 10 seconds. Living systems which are benefitted include humans.

A method is provided for enhancing the transport of a selected ion having a predetermined charge-to-mass ratio through a biomolecular membrane located in a space subjected to a local magnetic field. The space defines at least one reference path passing through the membrane in opposite first and second directions. The method includes the steps of creating a magnetic field which, when combined with the local magnetic field, produces a magnetic field having a flux density with at least one component representable by a component vector having a direction extending in the first direction along the path. This component of the magnetic field has a magnitude that fluctuates at a predetermined rate to produce a nonzero average value. A predetermined relationship between the ratio of the selected rate to the nonzero average value and the charge-to-mass ratio of the predetermined ion is thereby created. The predetermined relationship, is a function of the cyclotron resonance frequency of the ion. The present invention also provides an apparatus for enhancing the transport of a selected ion having a predetermined charge-to-mass ratio through a biomolecular membrane. The apparatus includes field creating means responsive to signals for creating a magnetic field which, when combined with the local magnetic field, produces a magnetic field having a flux density with at least one component representable by a component vector having a direction extending along a path through the membrane and having a magnitude that fluctuates at a predetermined rate to create a nonzero average value. The ratio of the predetermined rate to the nonzero average value has a predetermined relationship with respect to the charge-to-mass ratio of the predetermined ion which is a function of the cyclotron resonance frequency of the ion. Signal generating means is provided for generating the signals, at least some of which are generated at the predetermined rate.

A fully implantable and self-contained device is disclosed composed of a flexible electrode array 10 for surrounding damaged nerves and a signal generator 12 for driving the electrode array with periodic electrical impulses of nanoampere magnitude to induce regeneration of the damaged nerves.

A device for therapeutic treatment of cells and tissues in a living body by non-invasively applying a developed field of pulsating electrical energy to a body site to stimulate repair or growth of bone structure at the body site containing electronic counters to control the desired number of pulses, the pulse repetition rate and the pulse duty cycle. A sensor may be used to detect the occurrence of an applied pulse and produce a signal to control the developed field and may also be used to feed a circuit which tests the developed field to determine if it is adequate for the intended purpose. As an added feature, a circuit is provided to recover a portion of the energy in the developed field, during its decline, to reduce power consumption and dissipation.