Therapeutic method and apparatus using mechanically induced vibration

A noninvasive method of treating or preventing pressure ulcers, comprising:

• mechanically inducing a therapeutic level of vibration within a portion of a living body in need of treatment for pressure ulcers or susceptible to pressure ulcers, using a plurality of unbalanced-mass motors distributed about the skin surface of the affected body portion, with the rotational axis of each unbalanced-mass motor substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface such that vibrational forces generated by each motor are substantially perpendicular to the underlying skin surface;
• and
• damping any vibrational forces substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface more than vibrational forces substantially perpendicular to the underlying skin surface.

A noninvasive method of inhibiting bone density loss, comprising:

• mechanically inducing a therapeutic level of vibration within a portion of a living body susceptible to bone density loss, using a plurality of unbalanced-mass motors distributed about the skin surface of the susceptible body portion, with the rotational axis of each unbalanced-mass motor substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface, and each motor mounted such that vibrational forces generated by each motor are greater in a substantially perpendicular direction to the underlying skin surface than in any lateral direction to the underlying skin surface.

A noninvasive method of treating soft tissue injuries, comprising:

• mechanically inducing a therapeutic level of vibration within a portion of a living body in need of treatment for a soft tissue injury, using a plurality of unbalanced-mass motors distributed about the skin surface adjacent to the soft tissue injury, with the rotational axis of each unbalanced-mass motor substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface such that vibrational forces generated by each motor are substantially perpendicular to the underlying skin surface;
• and
• damping any vibrational forces substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface more than vibrational forces substantially perpendicular to the underlying skin surface.

A noninvasive method of treating peripheral arterial disease, comprising:

• mechanically inducing a therapeutic level of vibration within a portion of a living body in need of treatment for peripheral arterial disease, using a plurality of unbalanced-mass motors distributed about the skin surface of the affected body portion, with the rotational axis of each unbalanced-mass motor substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface such that vibrational forces generated by each motor are substantially perpendicular to the underlying skin surface;
• and
• damping any vibrational forces substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface more than vibrational forces substantially perpendicular to the underlying skin surface.

A noninvasive method of treating a bone fracture, comprising:

• mechanically inducing a therapeutic level of vibration within a fractured bone in a living body, using a plurality of unbalanced-mass motors distributed about the skin surface adjacent to the fracture, with the rotational axis of each unbalanced-mass motor substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface such that vibrational forces generated by each motor are substantially perpendicular to the underlying skin surface;
• and
• damping any vibrational forces substantially parallel to the underlying skin surface more than vibrational forces substantially perpendicular to the underlying skin surface.