Devices and method for treatment of degenerative joint diseases with electromagnetic fields
Described herein are devices and methods for treating degenerative joint diseases with electromagnetic fields using one or more waveforms that are configured to modulate Ca 2+ binding to calmodulin and thereby modulate calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide signaling within joint and other affected tissue for the purpose of reducing pain and inflammation, as well as enhancing the healing and regeneration of such tissue.
1. A lightweight, wearable, battery-operated electromagnetic field therapy system for treating degenerative joint disease, the system comprising:
a battery-operated electromagnetic field therapy microcontroller within a lightweight, wearable housing;
a flexible coil wire applicator coupled to the microcontroller; and
an orthotic configured to secure the applicator over a body joint;
wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude within a range of between 50 and 200 milliGauss, wherein the bursts have a duration of between 0.5 msec and 50 msec, further wherein the bursts are repeated at an interburst interval of between 10 seconds and 0.1 second for a treatment on-time of between 5 minutes and 30 minutes, followed by a treatment off-time that is in a range of between 30 minutes and 12 hours.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the applicator is integrated into the orthotic.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the applicator is embedded within a skin-contacting portion of the orthotic.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orthotic is a knee brace.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orthotic is a back brace.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orthotic is a hip brace.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the applicator is removably coupled to the orthotic.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply an automatic treatment regimen having a treatment on-time of between 5 minutes and 30 minutes, followed by a treatment off-time that is greater than 30 minutes.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply an automatic treatment regimen having a treatment on-time of between 15 minutes and 30 minutes, followed by a treatment off-time that is greater than 30 minutes.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of 6.8 MHz sinusoidal electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of 50 milliGauss, wherein the duration of the burst is about 7 msec, and bursts repeat every second.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of 27.12 MHz sinusoidal electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of 50 milliGauss.
12. A lightweight, wearable, battery-operated electromagnetic field therapy system for treating degenerative joint disease, the system comprising:
a flexible coil wire applicator;
a battery-operated electromagnetic field therapy microcontroller contained within a lightweight, wearable housing and configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude within a range of between 50 and 200 milliGauss, wherein the bursts have a duration of between 0.5 msec and 50 msec, further wherein the bursts are repeated at an interburst interval of between about 2 seconds and 0.1 second for a treatment on-time, followed by a treatment off-time that is in a range of between 30 minutes and 12 hours;
timing circuitry in the microcontroller wherein the timing circuitry is configured to automatically repeat delivery of the electromagnetic waves and periods of off-time; and
an orthotic configured to secure the applicator over a body joint.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the applicator is integrated into the orthotic.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the applicator is embedded within a skin-contacting portion of the orthotic.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the orthotic is a knee brace.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the orthotic is a back brace.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the orthotic is a hip brace.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the applicator is removably coupled to the orthotic.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of 6.8 MHz sinusoidal electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of 50 milliGauss.
20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of 27.2 MHz sinusoidal electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude of 50 milliGauss.
21. A lightweight, wearable, battery-operated electromagnetic field therapy system for treating degenerative joint disease, the system comprising:
a flexible coil wire applicator;
a battery-operated electromagnetic field therapy microcontroller contained within a lightweight, wearable housing and configured to drive the applicator to deliver bursts of electromagnetic waves having a peak amplitude within a range of between 50 and 200 milliGauss, wherein the bursts have a duration of between 0.5 msec and 50 msec, further wherein the bursts are repeated at an interburst interval of between 2 seconds and 0.1 second for a treatment on-time, followed by a treatment off-time that is in a range of between 30 minutes and 12 hours;
timing circuitry in the microcontroller wherein the timing circuitry is configured to automatically repeat delivery of the electromagnetic waves and periods of off-time; and
a housing surrounding the microcontroller that is configured to be coupled to an orthotic.