An apparatus and method for regulating the growth of living tissue are provided. The apparatus includes a deformable magnetic field generator and a magnetic field detector for producing a controlled, fluctuating, directionally oriented magnetic field parallel to a predetermined axis projecting through the target tissue. The deformable magnetic field generator includes a pair of field coils embedded in a flexible material which allows the field coils to be plastically deformed to fit the contour of a body region such as a patient's limb. The field detector samples the magnetic flux density along the predetermined access and provides a signal to a microprocessor which determines the average value of the flux density. The applied magnetic field is oscillated at predetermined frequencies to maintain a preselected ratio of frequency to average flux density. This ratio is maintained by adjusting the frequency of the fluctuating magnetic field and/or by adjusting the intensity of the applied magnetic field as the composite magnetic flux density changes in response to changes in the local magnetic field to which the target tissue is subjected. By maintaining these precise predetermined ratios of frequency to average magnetic flux density, growth characteristics of the target tissue are controlled.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/837,018 filed on Feb. 18, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,561, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/280,395 filed Dec. 5, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,976 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/172,268 filed Mar. 23, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,951.
A PEMF stimulation therapy system uses a PEMF transducer coil for generating PEMF stimulation signals and includes a single-winding transducer coil. A drive circuit recovers flyback energy from the single-winding transducer coil and dumps the voltage to a voltage supply equal to a predetermined high voltage that differs from supply voltage. This permits sequencing the current through the PEMF transducer coil in a positive direction and then negative direction. The result is a PEMF stimulation therapy system that may use a commercially available, low-cost battery for power and that is significantly lighter and more portable than known PEMF stimulation therapy systems.
An apparatus (1) for applying magnetic field treatment to a biological entity is disclosed. The apparatus has a signal generation unit (6) for generating an electrical treatment signal, and an induction coil mat (5), connected to said signal generation unit (6). A magnetic field is generated by the induction coil mat (5) in accordance with said electrical treatment signal. The electrical treatment signal comprises frequency components of approximately 300 Hz, 600 Hz, 800 Hz and 1,000 Hz in superposition. A further set of frequencies in the range between 2 Hz and 32 Hz can be added. These further frequencies are chosen in accordance with a desired treatment mode of operation.
An electromagnetic stimulator system and a method for treating body tissue utilizes includes an electrically-conductive band having an interior opening, a body of electrically-conductive material secured to the band in electrically-conducting relationship therewith, and an insulated coil encircling the body of the electrically-conductive material so that when a DC current is conducted through the coil, an electromagnetic field is induced through the body of electrically-conductive material which, in turn, induces an electromagnetic field within the interior opening of the band. A battery charger is used to delivering DC current through the coil from an AC electrical outlet so that by positioning the body tissue to be treated within the electrically-conductive band and delivering DC current through the coil, the body tissue positioned within the band is exposed to the electromagnetic field induced within the interior opening of the band.
A method and apparatus for speeding the healing process of soft tissues, bone fractures, cancerous tissue, nerve pathways and other body tissues wherein a portable base comprising a plurality of cells is applied with the cells facing or encircling the wound. The cells generate electro-magnetic radiations, radio frequencies, magnetic fields, current-voltage signals or combinations thereof via a field generator coil or electrodes. Each cell is powered and controlled individually via self-contained controls or remote controls. The type, frequency, pulse characteristics, repetition rate and signal density of the energy are varied according to the size and type of wound to be treated and according to the proximity of each cell to the wounded tissue.
A noninvasive method and apparatus for treating living tissue with pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) having selectively reduced high-frequency signal components, with improved bioresponse provided by magnetic field amplitudes less than approximately 40 .mu.T, and most preferably in the range of 4-10 .mu.T. Such amplitude levels for the disclosed PEMF signal are particularly effective with a treatment duration in the range of 0.25-2 hours/day.
