Conformable PEMF transducer
AssigneeAMEI Technologies Inc.
InventorJohn C. Tepper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conformable PEMF transducer (FIG. 1a-1b) used for PEMF therapy (such as for healing non-union fractures of the hip). The transducer (FIG. 3 ) includes electrically conducting primary, secondary, and sense windings (31, 32, 33) formed into a transducer coil integral with non-conducting semi-rigid structural windings (34). The structural windings provide structural support for the coil so that it is formable into a selected anatomical contour, but still flexibly conformable to accommodate normal patient motion. Control electronics (FIG. 4 ) includes a PEMF processor (41) that executes a PEMF program for providing pulsing current to the front and back transducers at predetermined intervals, thereby activating the electromagnetic field according to a prescribed PEMF regimen.
Claims23
A conformable PEMF transducer for providing PEMF therapeutic stimulation to a selected target area of a patient's body, comprising:
- a transducer including at least a primary winding with a selected number of turns, and a structural winding of semi-rigid stiffening wire with a selected number of turns to form a primary/structural winding bundle;
- said primary/structural winding bundle being held together to form an integral transducer coil, with the structural winding providing a predetermined degree of structural rigidity such that the transducer is formable to a selected anatomical contour and is flexibly conformable to accommodate patient movement;
- and
- activation electronics coupled to said primary winding for selectively activating electromagnetic fields, thereby implementing a prescribed PEMF therapy.
A method of fabricating a conformable PEMF transducer system for providing PEMF therapeutic stimulation to a target area of a patient's body, comprising the steps;
- winding at least a primary winding with a selected number of turns and a structural winding with a selected number of turns of semi-rigid stiffening wire around a mandrel to form a primary/structural winding bundle;
- binding said primary and structural windings together and removing said primary/structural winding bundle from the mandrel;
- forming said primary/structural winding bundle into a selected anatomical contour;
- and
- coupling activation electronics to said transducer for selectively activating electromagnetic fields, thereby implementing a prescribed PEMF therapy.
A conformable PEMF transducer for providing PEMF therapeutic stimulation to a selected area of a patient's body, comprising:
- a primary/structural winding layer formed by a primary winding with a selected number of turns and a structural winding with a selected number of turns;
- at least one secondary winding layer formed by a secondary winding with a selected number of turns;
- said primary/structural winding layer and said secondary winding layer being bound together to form an integral transducer coil, with the structural winding providing structural support such that the transducer coil is formable to a selected anatomical contour and is flexibly conformable to accommodate patient movement;
- activation electronics positioned adjacent a portion of the transducer coil and encapsulated along with such portion in a potting material;
- said activation electronics being coupled to said primary winding for selectively activating electromagnetic fields in response to control signals, thereby implementing a prescribed PEMF therapy;
- attachment means for attaching said transducer coil to the selected area of the patient's body;
- and
- a control electronics module including control electronics coupled to said drive electronics for providing said control signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.