WO2002102457A1

WO2002102457A1 - Apparatus for applying an electromagnetic field to a living body

Info

Publication number: WO2002102457A1
Application number: PCT/IB2002/003526
Authority: WO
Inventors: Georges Vanroy
Original assignee: Georges Vanroy
Priority date: 2001-06-14
Filing date: 2002-06-14
Publication date: 2002-12-27
Also published as: NL1018287C2

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus to apply an electromagnetic field on at least a part of the body including at least a transducer and a generator to apply an ac signal on the transducer, whereby the transducer is adapted to generate to apply on at least a part of the body at least a part of the by the transducer generated electromagnetic field, wherein the generator is adapted to generate an ac signal with a basic frequency situated between 0.1Hz and 4000Hz. The basic idea of the invention is the acceptance according to which an applied electromagnetic field with the preceding described properties, applied on the body modulates the immune system of that body. This modulating effect on the body is due to the fact that magnetic fields with low frequencies and a small amplitude, like mentioned above, generate or induce small potential differences in the tissues. These small potential differences and their effects seem to have a stimulating or modulating effect on the cells belonging to the immune system.

Description

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING AN ELECTRO MAGNETIC FIELD ON A LIVING BODY

It is well known that a living body reacts on electromagnetic fields .

So one uses X-ray radiation for diagnostic purposes. It is also known that electromagnetic fields are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Also for therapeutic purposes, electromagnetic radiations, especially X-ray and electromagnetic radiation are used to treat cancers .

In these applications, high-frequency and in the case of therapeutic use high-energy radiation is used.

Nevertheless, also electromagnetic fields with low- frequencies containing low energy levels can introduce reactions in the human body.

Such a reaction is described in the book ^λDe I'Auriculotherapie a l'Auriculomedicine' from Nogier Paul F. M., ISBN 2-7160-0086-7.

In this document we learn an arrangement to apply an electromagnetic field on at least a part of the body, this arrangement includes at least a transducer and a generator to create an alternative current signal, thereby the transducer is arranged in such a way that at least a part of the body is influenced by at least a part of the by the transducer created electromagnetic field.

This document also describes a method to treat a living body with an electromagnetic field created by a transducer fed by a generator which is applied to at least a part of the living body.

In the described proceedings of this document, one tries to stimulate different parts of the human body by a pulsating light, so a high frequency electromagnetic radiation. Indeed, one can observe reactions in the body, like a change in the heart beat at the radial artery at the level of the wrist . In this document, one proposes to irradiate local parts of the human body with weak electromagnetic waves. No really reproducable results seem to be obtained. Also in US-A-3 890 953 such a method is described, it claims that bone growth and growth of other tissues is enhanced.

A similar procedure is used in US-A-5 908 441.

From an article: The effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field on osteomylitis in a rabbit tibial model', D.C. Frederics cs, Bioelectromagnetic Society, 22^nd Annual Meeting, Mύnchen, Germany, June 9^th-16^th 2000, the application of an electromagnetic field to inhibit infections in rabbits is described. US-A-5 968 527 describes an arrangement to apply an electromagnetic field to at least a part of the body, including at least a transducer and a generator to create the alternating current signal for the transducer, whereby the transducer is arranged to apply on at least one part of the body at least a part of the, by the transducer created, magnetic field, whereby the generator is arranged in such a way to produce an alternating current signal with the basic frequency between 0.5Hz and 6000Hz.

An alternating magnetic field creates an alternating electric field. As described above, creating a magnetic field is a consequence of a flowing current, without interference of electrical fields . The purpose of the proposed method and arrangement is to ameliorate the arrangement with the purpose to obtain ways to promote the effectiveness of the self-healing processes of the body. This purpose is obtained by an arrangement like mentioned above, whereby the transducer includes a pair of electrodes arranged to create a flowing current between the pair of electrodes .

The basic idea of the invention is the acceptance that a on the body applied electromagnetic field, with the above described properties, modulates the immune system of the body.

The mechanism of the invention is supposed to be the fact that magnetic fields with a low frequency and small amplitude, as mentioned above, induce or generate small potential differences in the tissues. These small potential differences and their effects seem to have a stimulating or modulating action on the cells of the immune system.

Notice that experiments proved that the method and arrangement, according to the invention, is especially effective in infections. Nevertheless, the effect will decrease if the patient is taking medicaments which inhibit the immune system. Besides, no direct killing effect on microbes was observed in some in vitro experiments.

The application of a magnetic field creates or induces potential differences in the tissues. This is an easy and relatively simple way to create electric potentials in the tissues.

Off course, an alternating magnetic field creates and alternating electric field, although, the low frequencies and amplitudes of the magnetic field are used in this case and electrical fields of very low value are created. According to a first preferential form of execution the transducer includes as well a coil as a pair of electrodes, both coil and the pair of electrodes are fed by the same generato and the longitudinal axis of the coil is parallel to the connecting line between the pair of electrodes.

The combination of the coil and the electrodes creates magnetic fields with different penetration levels. This way, deeper parts of the body can be reached.

Off course, an alternating magnetic field creates an alternating electric field, although, in this case the applied low frequencies and small amplitude magnetic fields create very small electrical fields.

The amplitude of the in this way created magnetic field is small, most of the time smaller than those of the earth's magnetic field.

Therefore, it is wise to take into account the strength and the direction of the earth's magnetic field. This is especially the case when the coil is placed to create a magnetic field who's substantial direction component should be parallel to the direction of the earth's magnetic field. Nevertheless, other relations between the magnetic field created by the coil and the earth' s magnetic field could be interesting.

In an other preferential way of execution, the transducer can be placed in a way to create a magnetic field with a substantial direction component parallel to the direction of the earth's magnetic field.

The applied signal can be a sinus wave , also, square and other forms of waves could be used. It seems that the application of signals containing only odd harmonics, such as square waves and rectified sinus waves give the best results.

A preferred way of execution shows us that the generator is arranged to produce a periodic signal with odd higher harmonics. Once again, another form of execution shows that the generator is arranged to produce a combination of periodic signals with different frequencies but with the same wave form.

Measures are taken in such a way that the signal includes different basic frequencies, or the signal's basic frequency changes repeatedly, so the body especially the immune system is stimulated or modulated by potential differences with different frequencies.

It is possible to present the different frequencies in a sequential way, by doing a step by step change or a continuous change. It is also possible to present the different frequencies at the same time.

The choice of the applied frequencies and the connected parameters such as time and amplitude of the signals with certain frequencies is depending on the kind and the location of the disease.

The arrangement is preferentially equipped with a memory to store these values .

It is possible that these values have been obtained in an empirical way. Hereby, the values that obtained the best results in the past will be stored.

It goes without saying that the person performing the treatment makes himself a choice based on the reactions of the patient and his own experience.

By this should be stated that at this moment, the method of the invention and the use of the arrangements according to the invention should be done by a medical doctor. It should not be excluded that, for instance, after a general acceptation of the here applied method, it should be executed by a paramedical or that a patient gives himself the treatment.

It's also possible that the in the memory stored values are obtained after measurements of the earth's magnetic field.

To do this, one uses the previously obtained values which were related to the earth' s magnetic field and which led to good therapeutic results. Off course, in this case, no changes in position and direction leading to a change in the influence of the earth's magnetic field should be introduced; the point of departure is: more or less constant values for direction and magnitude of the earth's magnetic field.

One could, in a further form of execution, make an arrangement which takes into account the momentary values of the strength of the earth's magnetic field. Off course, in this case, one should measure the strength of the earth magnetic field before starting the treatment.

It is also possible that the in the memory stored values are obtained by observation of reactions of the body affected by a certain disease. In this case, one uses values obtained by experience .

As a relatively cheap and simple implementation of the invention, one can use a generator coupled to an amplifier.

The amplifier is not only for the purpose of amplifying the signal generated by the generator but also to determine exactly the magnitude of the signal and to adapt to the used type of transducer. In this way the amplifier can contain at the same time an attenuator.

According to a more specific form of execution, the source of the signal contains a compact disc player with an inserted compact disc. In this way it is possible in a simple way to create the necessary signals to make the method, according to the invention, to be functional; the compact disc functions as a memory card.

The source of the signal can at the same time contain a digital calculator. This calculator, for instance, in the form of a personal computer, can be programmed to deliver the right signals. Hereby, one can use a CD-ROM which , for instance, can be provided with comments and instructions.

A further form of execution can be arranged in such a way that the values of the signals applied to the transducer are established in an empirical way.

Hereby, it's possible to optimise the different values of the applied signals. Hereby, one starts with the hypothesis that the therapeutic action of the signals is maximal when the responses of the body to these signals are maximal .

As an example of a response of the body, the change in the heartbeat , for instance, can be considered. The change in the heartbeat can be measured, but can also be evaluated by a trained observer on the radial artery at the level of the wrist. By the way, it's possible to use other responses of the body such as changes in temperature or frequency of respiration.

Next, the invention will be further explained and illustrated with some examples of executions which are presented in enclosed drawings, here is presented:

Figure 1: a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the first form of execution of the invention;

Figure 2 : a schematic representation of an arrangement of a second form of execution of the invention. In figure 1, a patient 1 is represented lying on a bed or sofa 2. An operator 3 places a coil 4 on the body of a patient 1; in the presented case, on the anterior part of the thorax 1. The coil 4 is placed with its longitudinal axis as much as possible parallel to the direction of the earth's magnetic field. In the presented case, the direction component is parallel to the surface of the earth and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the patient.

To feed the coil 4, one uses a compact disc player 5, which is connected with coil 4 by means of an amplifier 6 . The compact disc player 5 contains a compact disc containing a recording of a large quantity of signals which can be supplied to coil 4. The compact disc player delivers these signals to the amplifier 6 amplifying those signals and adapting them to the impedance of coil 4. By the way, it is possible to use a resistance placed in serial with the coil so that a surcharge of the amplifier can be adapted.

The compact disc contains a large number of signals which are ranged according to frequency, time and amplitude. Hereby, a command is foreseen on the compact disc itself in the form of spoken language, a display where information is given or a written explanation, concerning the choice of the right signal to treat a certain type of disease. As already stated in the introduction, the operator himself can make a choice among the signals according to the disease to be treated.

Hereby one uses a coil with an iron core with a diameter of 10mm. Also, an air-coil can be used. The number of windings is off course depending on the to be created amplitude of field strength, the frequency, the impedance, the used materials and other factors .

By the way, it is also possible to use a pair of electrodes connected with the amplifier, or not connected to a resistance. In this case, preferentially, one should select the right direction of the electric field compared to the direction of the earth's magnetic field.

The actual treatment is realised by playing the compact disk. In a second form of execution, one uses a personal computer instead of a compact disk player, in the personal computer is off course a memory needed to store the data for a treatment this memory can be executed in different ways RAM- memory, ROM-memory, Hard-disk for magnetic registration, a floppy disk for magnetic registration, a CD-ROM, etc. .By the way, the personal computer can be replaced by a calculator of another kind, including a D/A transformer to transform the digital signals created by the processor of the computer into analogue signals which are conducted to the transducer.

Off course, one has to use in this form of execution an amplifier to adapt the levels of currents and potentials to a level necessary to realise a treatment. The transducer is in this case not essentially different from the transducer used in the first form of execution.

There's an essential difference in the second execution form : a certain degree of feedback can be realised.

The strength of the fields of the applied magnetic fields is low, close to or lower than the values of the field of the earth's magnetic field.

The earth' s magnetic field has in this way a considerable influence on the, during the thera- py applied, magnetic field. In this second form of execution, there's a possibility to measure the strength of the earth's magnetic field and also to store the measured values . During a treatment shortly after these measurements, one can take into account the measured values of the earth's magnetic field to determine the strength of the magnetic field to be applied during the treatment . Also, while applying an electric field during the treatment, the value of the earth's magnetic field can be of importance. In this situation, it can also be of interest to measure the value of the earth's magnetic field. The protocol of treatment can be arranged in such a way that first the earth's magnetic field is measured, the measured values are stored and the adapted values can be used during the treatment .

Preferentially, a data acquisition chart or program will be used to perform the measurements and store them in the memory.

Off course, by the measurements of the earth's magnetic field, preferentially the same coil as the one used in the treatment will be used. Although not figured in the drawing it is possible to use a large coil in which the patient can be placed in its total or partial length. This form of execution is especially applicable when the disease to be treated is effecting a large part of or whole the body. It's also possible to use a large version of the coil to apply a static magnetic field on a patient. This static magnetic field created in this way has the same function as the earth's electromagnetic field. When the values of the frequencies, in collaboration with the static magnetic field, create a cyclotron resonance in certain ions present in the human body, we also obtain results with this arrangement and method.

In the conclusions, the following windows of frequencies are mentioned: 0.5Hz - 8Hz; 8Hz - 15Hz; 240Hz - 410Hz; 550Hz - 800Hz; 740Hz - 840Hz; 800Hz-1200Hz; 2200Hz-3000Hz or 2800Hz - 3500Hz.

Instead of those, other frequencies can be used: 1Hz - 7Hz; 9Hz - 14Hz; 250Hz - 400Hz; 570Hz - 750Hz; 850Hz - 1150Hz;

2300Hz - 2900Hz; 3000Hz - 3400 Hz. The limits of both series of window of frequencies can be combined.

In the conclusions, values of the magnetic field are mentioned going from 1 x 10 -4 μT to 100 μT. It's also perfectly possible that other limits can also give good results, like an upper limit of e.g. IT, 0,3T, 0,1T, 300mT, lOOmT, 30mT, lOmT, 3mT, lmT, 300μT, lOOμT, 30μT, 10μT, 3μT,

0,lμT, 0,03μτ, 0,01μT, 0,0003μT or 0,00lμτ. Also a substantial variation of the lower limit is possible, e.g. 0,0001μT, 0,0003μT, 0,001μT, 0,003μT, 0,01μT, 0,03μT,

0,lμT, 0,3μT, lμT, 3μT, 0,01mT or 0,03mT. All these lower and upper limits can be combined together.

Finally, a number of diseases, where positive results are obtained during experiments are mentioned.

Hospital infections (nosocomial infections) , such as infections by Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Escheria Coli, etc.

The clinical symptoms and lesions of e.g. chronic osteomyelitis diminish after one to 3 weekly treatments, healings are reported after 5-8 treatments.

Infected surgical wounds heal after 1-3 treatments.

Bacterial infections such as abscesses, some forms of bronchitis, some forms of laryngitis, some forms of sinusitis, diverticulitis and cystitis, can be treated by this method. Viral infections such as Herpes Zoster, Herpes Genitalis and some forms of hepatitis B can be treated by this method.

In case of acute Herpes Zoster pain diminishes after one treatment within a few hours. The lesion heals within a week.

Non-infectious inflammatory diseases, such as some forms of intestinal inflammations, especially colitis ulcrosa, some forms of arthritis, acute attack of gout, and certain forms of tendonitis, can be ameliorated after 1-2 treatments.

Sprains and contusions. Ankle sprains are 80% better within the hour after treatment. This amelioration concerns the functionality as well as the pain.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

1. Apparatus for applying an electromagnetic field on at least one part of a body, including at least a transducer and an ac generator for applying an ac signal on the transducer, whereby the transducer is adapted to apply on at least a part of the body at least a part of the by the transducer generated magnetic field, wherebinthe generator is adapted to generate an ac signal with the basic frequency between 0,5Hz and 6000Hz characteristed in that the transducer comprises a pair of electrodes, which are arranged to create a flow of current between said pair of electrodes .

2. Apparatus as claims in claim 1, characterised in that the transducer comprises both a coil and a pair of electrodes, wherein the coil and the pair of electrodes are fed by the same generator.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the longitudinal axis of the coil extends parallel to the connection line of the pair of electrodes.

4. Apparatus as claims in claim 3, characterised in that the transducer is positioned to create a magnetic field with a substantial component in a direction parallel to the direction of the earth's magnetic field.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 , characterised in that the generator is arranged to create a periodic signal with higher odd harmonics.

6. Apparatus as claimd in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the generator is arranged to generate a combination of periodic signals with different frequencies but with the same wave form.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the generator is arranged in such a way to generate a combination of signals, each of them having a frequency situated in one of the following windows of frequency:

0,5Hz - 8Hz; 8Hz - 15Hz; 240Hz - 410Hz; 550Hz - 800Hz; 740Hz - 840Hz; 800Hz - 1200Hz; 2200Hz - 3000Hz or 2800Hz - 3500 Hz.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arrangement is equipped with a memory to store at least an element of the frequency, the waveform, the time period, and the amplitude of the signals applied to the transducer.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that at least a part of the in the memory stored values are obtained empirically.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that at least a part of the in the memory stored values are adapted to the measured values of the strength of the earth's magnetic field.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that at least a part of the in the memory stored values are obtained by observation of reactions on the body that has to be treated.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that at least a part of the in the memory storedl values are values of frequencies which in combination with the momentary present steady magnetic field create a resonance wityn certain ions present in the body.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of thej preceding claims, characterised in that an arrangement to apE_jl a static magnetic field to a patient.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the generator includes a source of signals and an amplifier coupled to the source of signals.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the source of signals includes a compact disc player with a compact disc inserted.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the source of signals includes a digital calculator.

17. A method to treat a living body, consisting of the application of an electromagnetic field to at least a part of the living body, by means of a transducer fed by a generator, characterised in that the basic frequency of the electromagnetic field is situated between 0.5Hz and 6000Hz and that the transducer creates directly a current flowing through the body.

18. A method according to conclusion 17, characterised in that the method is being used to treat local diseases and that the transducer is placed on the affected part of the body to apply the electromagnetic field.

19. A method according to conclusion 18, characterised in that a signal with at least odd harmonics is being placed on the body.

20. A method according to claims 18 or 19, characterised in that the transducer is placed in such a way that the direction of a substantial component of the magnetic field is parallel to the direction of the earth's magnetic field.

21. A method according to one of the conclusions 18-20, with the characteristic , that the transducer is provided with signals where values are obtained in an empirical way.

22. A method according to one of the claims 18-20, characterised in that the frequencies of the signals are adjustable and that the frequencies are chosen according to the response given by the body.

23. A method according to one of the claims 18-21, characterised in that during the application of an electromagnetic field, a static magnetic field is applied at the same time .