Active bandage suitable for applying pulsed radio-frequencies or microwaves to the skin for medical purposes
AssigneeMMTC, Inc.
InventorDaniel D. Mawhinney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An active RF or microwave bandage, that incorporates any of various disclosed configurations of pliable planar microstrip or slotline antenna structures, is conformable to a selected area of the skin of a patient for use in therapeutically treating soft tissue of the patient underlying the selected area with pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) energy of a given frequency radiated from the planar antenna structure. The PEMF energy is supplied to the planar antenna structure by means including a PEMF generator (which generator may be a miniaturized portable generator employing a battery power supply that permits the patient being treated to be ambulatory).
Claims16
An article of manufacture comprising an active bandage incorporating at least one pliable planar antenna that is conformable to a selected area of the skin of a patient for use in deriving a radiation pattern for therapeutically treating soft tissue of the patient underlying said selected area with pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) energy of a given frequency within a given one of the 915 MHz frequency band and the 2450 MHz frequency band radiated from said planar antenna for a purpose which includes (1) promoting improved healing of soft-tissue wounds and incisions proximate to said selected area of the skin of said patient and/or (2) enhancing the efficacy of transdermal drug delivery to said soft tissue of the patient underlying said selected area of the skin of said patient, wherein
- said pliable planar antenna comprises a pliable dielectric panel having a given dielectric constant, which panel (1) has a first metallic clad having a first given configuration of first given dimensions disposed over a back surface thereof intended to be disposed distal to said selected area of the skin and (2) has a second metallic clad having a second given configuration of second given dimensions disposed over a front surface thereof intended to be disposed proximate to said selected area of the skin, whereby said radiation pattern is determined by said first and second given configurations, the respective values of said first and second given dimensions and the value of said given dielectric constant, and the respective values of said given dielectric constant and said second given dimensions are such as to result in substantial matching of said pliable planar antenna at said given frequency.
In apparatus for therapeutically treating soft tissue of a patient underlying a selected area of the patient's skin with pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) energy of a given frequency within a given one of the 915 MHz frequency band and the 2450 MHz frequency band for a purpose which includes (1) promoting improved healing of soft-tissue wounds and incisions proximate to said selected area of the skin of said patient and/or (2) enhancing the efficacy of transdermal drug delivery to said soft tissue of the patient underlying said selected area of the skin of said patient, wherein said apparatus comprises in combination:
- an active bandage incorporating at least one pliable planar antenna that is conformed to said selected area of the skin of said patient for use in deriving a radiation pattern of said PEMF energy of said given frequency within said given one of the 915 MHz frequency band and the 2450 MHz frequency band which irradiates said soft tissue with said PEMF energy radiated from said planar antenna in response to said pliable planar antenna being supplied with a given limited amount of pulsed energy at said given frequency;
- and
- means including a generator for supplying said given limited amount of pulsed energy at said given frequency from said generator to said pliable planar antenna, wherein said given limited amount of pulsed energy has a value which is insufficient to heat said irradiated soft tissue to a temperature higher than 39° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.