# US 11,026,824 B2 · Wearable apparatus for the treatment or prevention of osteopenia and osteoporosis, stimulating bone growth, preserving or improving bone mineral density, and inhibiting adipogenesis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,824 B2 - Document ID: US11026824B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/239,305 - Filed: 2019-01-03 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-17 - Assignees: TheraNova, LLC - Applicants: TheraNova, LLC - Inventors: Daniel R. Burnett; Shane Mangrum; Timothy Tigner; Evan S. Luxon; Marcie Hamilton; Alex Yee; Jose Gutierrez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026824B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/0003: {Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices (surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04)} - A61H 23/02: with electric or magnetic drive - A61H 23/0218: {with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement} - A61H 23/0245: {with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric} - A61H 23/0263: {using rotating unbalanced masses} - A61H 2201/1445: Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches - A61H 2201/1623: Back - A61H 2201/1628: Pelvis - A61H 2201/1633: Seat (A61H2201/0149 takes precedence) - A61H 2201/1635: Hand or arm, e.g. handle - A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal - A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces - A61H 2201/5002: Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient - A61H 2201/5005: for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal - A61H 2201/501: connected to external computer devices or networks - A61H 2201/5012: using the internet - A61H 2201/5061: Force sensors - A61H 2201/5084: Acceleration sensors - A61H 2201/5097: wireless - A61H 2205/081: Back - A61H 2205/088: Hip - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract A wearable apparatus for the treatment or prevention of osteopenia or osteoporosis, stimulating bone growth, preserving or improving bone mineral density, and inhibiting adipogenesis is disclosed where the apparatus may generally comprise one or more vibrating elements configured for imparting repeated mechanical loads to the hip, femur, and/or spine of an individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient for therapeutic effect. These vibrating elements may be secured to the upper body of an individual via one or more respective securing mechanisms, where the securing mechanisms are configured to position the one or more vibrating elements in a direction lateral to the individual, and the position, tension, and efficacy of these vibrating elements may be monitored and/or regulated by one or more accelerometers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wearable apparatus for treating or preventing osteoporosis, comprising: one or more vibrating elements configured for imparting repeated mechanical loads to the hip, femur, and/or spine of an individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient to induce strain in bone tissue for therapeutic effect on osteoporosis; one or more securing mechanisms for securing said one or more vibrating elements to the body of said individual such that the one or more vibrating elements are maintained against the body while maintaining portability, wherein said securing mechanisms are configured to position the one or more vibrating elements such that the mechanical loads are applied laterally to the individual; and an embedded electronics assembly which is configured to track and/or report compliance of apparatus use with a prescribed or recommended usage in accordance with treating or preventing osteoporosis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly is configured to enable communication between the apparatus and another device located remotely. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more accelerometers configured to be positioned over an iliac crest of the individual when the wearable apparatus is worn and is configured to measure acceleration at the hip of the individual. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more accelerometers ensure proper positioning and/or tensioning of the apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a manually settable control for adjusting the frequency of said repeated mechanical loads provided by said one or more vibrating elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a manually settable control for adjusting the peak acceleration provided by said one or more vibrating elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more vibrating elements comprises an oscillating element energized by an electrical power source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said oscillating element comprises an oscillating mass that moves in a periodic motion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more vibrating elements vibrates at a frequency in a range of about 15-45 Hz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more vibrating elements generates peak acceleration in a range of about 0.1-1.5 g. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more vibrating elements is operative to induce strain in bone tissue in a range of about 1-500 microstrain. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more vibrating elements is operative to induce strain in bone tissue in a range of about 20-50 microstrain. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more vibrating elements generates vibrations in the axis parallel to the spine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more vibrating elements generates vibrations in the axes perpendicular to a spine of the individual. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more vibrating elements is worn over the lower abdomen or lower back of the individual. ### Claim 16 A wearable apparatus for treating or preventing osteoporosis, comprising: one or more vibrating elements configured for imparting repeated mechanical loads to the hip, femur, and/or spine of an individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient for therapeutic effect on osteoporosis; one or more securing mechanisms for securing said one or more vibrating elements to the body of said individual such that the one or more vibrating elements are maintained against the body while maintaining portability, wherein said securing mechanisms are configured to position the one or more vibrating elements in a direction lateral to the individual; an embedded electronics assembly which is configured to track and/or report compliance of apparatus use with a prescribed or recommended usage; and one or more accelerometers configured to be positioned over an iliac crest of the individual when the wearable apparatus is worn and is configured to measure acceleration at the hip of the individual. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electronics assembly is configured to enable communication between the apparatus and another device located remotely. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a manually settable control for adjusting the frequency of said repeated mechanical loads provided by said one or more vibrating elements. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a manually settable control for adjusting the peak acceleration provided by said one or more vibrating elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more vibrating elements comprises an oscillating element energized by an electrical power source. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said oscillating element comprises an oscillating mass that moves in a periodic motion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more vibrating elements vibrates at a frequency in a range of about 15-45 Hz. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more vibrating elements generates peak acceleration in a range of about 0.1-1.5 g. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more vibrating elements is operative to induce strain in bone tissue in a range of about 1-500 microstrain. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more vibrating elements is operative to induce strain in bone tissue in a range of about 20-50 microstrain. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more vibrating elements generates vibrations in the axis parallel to the spine. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more vibrating elements generates vibrations in the axes perpendicular to a spine of the individual. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more vibrating elements is worn over the lower abdomen or lower back of the individual. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more accelerometers ensure proper positioning and/or tensioning of the apparatus.