Stimulation device for treating osteoarthritis
A device for providing therapeutic treatment to a body part such as a knee joint to promote healing of the body part, including a signal generator for generating a pulsed electromagnetic field to electromagnetic stimulators based upon a selected treatment mode, a controller for storing the treatment mode and communicating the treatment mode to the signal generator and stimulators, a heat source configured to provide thermal therapy to the body part, and a monitoring element for monitoring the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic stimulators. The device may also include a telemetry component in communication with the monitor for remotely accessing the controller to modify the treatment mode. The device can also be disposable.
1. A portable, non-invasive device for providing therapeutic treatment to a knee joint to promote healing of the knee joint, the device comprising:
a multi-usage knee cuff positionable around the knee joint, the multi-usage knee cuff comprising:
an electromagnetic therapy portion, comprising:
a signal generator for generating pulsed signals based upon a selected treatment mode;
a controller for storing the treatment mode and communicating the treatment mode to the signal generator; and
an electromagnetic stimulator configured to receive the signals from the signal generator and generate an electromagnetic field within the knee joint, the electromagnetic stimulator comprising:
a medial coil configured to receive a signal from the signal generator and to generate an electromagnetic field within a medial area of the knee joint; and
a lateral coil configured to receive a signal from the signal generator and to generate an electromagnetic field within a lateral area of the knee joint;
a temperature-based therapy portion, comprising:
a thermal exchange component configured to provide temperature-based therapy to the knee joint, the thermal exchange component comprising:
a medial single-use therapy unit configured to provide temperature-based therapy to a medial area of the knee joint; and
a lateral single-use therapy unit configured to provide temperature-based therapy to a lateral area of the knee joint; and
a display for displaying one or more treatment parameters.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery coupled to the signal generator.
3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first power source coupled to the signal generator, and a second, different power source coupled to the thermal exchange component.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal exchange component is a heat source configured to provide heat therapy to the knee joint.
5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a disposable stimulator housing comprising at least one of the electromagnetic stimulator and the thermal exchange component, wherein the disposable stimulator housing is configured to be mechanically coupled to a receptacle on the multi-usage knee cuff.
6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an electromagnetic field monitor configured to monitor the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic stimulator; and
a feedback circuit between the electromagnetic field monitor and the controller for adjusting the treatment mode if a sensed electromagnetic field is outside of a specified range.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal exchange component is a cooling source configured to provide cold therapy to the knee joint.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal exchange component is configured to provide pulsed temperature-based therapy to the knee joint.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic stimulator is configured to generate the electromagnetic field within the knee joint that coincides in duration with the temperature-based therapy to the knee joint.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic stimulator is configured to generate the electromagnetic field within the knee joint that does not coincide in duration with the temperature-based therapy to the knee joint.
11. The device of claim 5 , wherein the disposable stimulator housing, when mechanically coupled to the receptacle on the multi-usage knee cuff, is configured to enable the electromagnetic stimulator to generate the electromagnetic field within the knee joint.
12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature monitor for monitoring a tissue temperature; and
a feedback circuit between the temperature monitor and the controller for adjusting the treatment mode if a tissue temperature is outside of a specified range.
13. A method for providing therapeutic treatment to a knee joint, the method comprising:
positioning a multi-usage knee cuff around the knee joint, the multi-usage knee cuff comprising:
an electromagnetic stimulator configured to generate an electromagnetic field within the knee joint, wherein the electromagnetic stimulator includes a medial coil and a lateral coil; and
a thermal exchange component configured to provide temperature-based therapy to the knee joint, wherein the thermal exchange component include a medial single-use therapy unit and a lateral single-use therapy unit;
wherein the positioning the multi-usage knee cuff includes:
positioning the medial coil to generate an electromagnetic field within a medial area of the knee joint;
positioning the lateral coil to generate an electromagnetic field within a lateral area of the knee joint;
positioning the medial single-use therapy unit to provide temperature-based therapy to a medial area of the knee joint; and
positioning the lateral single-use therapy unit to provide temperature-based therapy to a lateral area of the knee joint;
generating signals with a signal generator based upon a selected treatment mode, the treatment mode stored in a controller;
communicating the signals to the electromagnetic stimulator;
generating a pulsed electromagnetic field within the medial area of the knee joint, and separately, within the lateral area of the knee joint using the electromagnetic stimulator;
generating a therapeutic temperature-related treatment within the medial area of the knee joint, and separately, within the lateral area of the knee joint using the thermal exchange component; and
displaying one or more treatment parameters on a display coupled to the controller.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein generating the therapeutic temperature-related treatment includes generating therapeutic heat treatment using an exothermic reaction.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising monitoring the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic stimulator and adjusting the treatment mode if a sensed electromagnetic field is outside of a specified range.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing power to the signal generator using body movement.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising mechanically coupling the thermal exchange component to a receptacle on the multi-usage knee cuff.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising enabling the generating the pulsed electromagnetic field using the mechanically coupling the thermal exchange component to the receptacle on the multi-usage knee cuff.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating the therapeutic temperature-related treatment includes generating therapeutic cold treatment.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating the therapeutic temperature-related treatment includes generating pulsed therapeutic temperature-related treatment.
21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating the pulsed electromagnetic field coincides in duration with the generating the therapeutic temperature-related treatment.
22. The method of claim 13 , further comprising monitoring a tissue temperature and adjusting the treatment mode if the tissue temperature is outside of a specified range.
23. A method for providing therapeutic treatment to a knee joint, the method comprising:
providing a multi-usage knee cuff positionable around the knee joint, the multi-usage knee cuff comprising:
an electromagnetic stimulator configured to generate an electromagnetic field within the knee joint, the electromagnetic stimulator comprising a medial coil and a lateral coil; and
a thermal exchange component configured to provide temperature-based therapy to the knee joint, the thermal exchange component comprising a medial single-use therapy unit and a lateral single-use therapy unit;
generating signals with a signal generator based upon a selected treatment mode, the treatment mode stored in a controller;
communicating the signals to the electromagnetic stimulator;
generating a pulsed electromagnetic field using the medial coil and the lateral coil;
generating a therapeutic temperature-related treatment using the medial single-use therapy unit, and separately, within the lateral area of the knee joint using the lateral single-use therapy unit; and
displaying one or more treatment parameters on a display coupled to the controller.
24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising mechanically coupling the thermal exchange component to a receptacle on the multi-usage knee cuff.
25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising enabling the generating the pulsed electromagnetic field using the mechanically coupling the thermal exchange component to the receptacle on the multi-usage knee cuff.