Skeletal manipulation method
View Patent ↗A method of treating scoliosis in a subject includes securing a scoliosis treatment device to first and second locations on the subject's skeletal system, the scoliosis treatment device including a first portion, a second portion moveably mounted relative to the first portion, and an adjustment device disposed on the device and configured to change a distraction force between the first location and the second location, the adjustment device including a rotationally mounted magnetic element configured to move the second portion relative to the first portion in response to rotation of the magnetic element. An external adjustment device is provided external to the subject and is able to adjust the distraction force between the first location and second location.
1. A method of treating scoliosis comprising:
securing a scoliosis treatment device to first and second locations on a subject's skeletal system, the scoliosis treatment device comprising a first portion, a second portion moveably mounted relative to the first portion, and an adjustment device disposed on the device and configured to change a distraction force between the first location and the second location, the adjustment device comprising a rotationally mounted magnetic element, wherein the scoliosis treatment device is configured to be non-invasively adjusted by an external adjustment device external to the subject, the external adjustment device comprising first and second rotating magnetic fields rotating about separate axes, the first and second rotating magnetic fields being disposed on the same side of the subject's body, wherein rotating the first and second magnetic fields of the external adjustment device increases the distraction force between the first location and second location.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotating magnetic fields emanate from first and second permanent magnets.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein opposing poles of the first and second rotating magnets of the external adjustment device are angularly synchronized during rotation.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of securing the scoliosis treatment device comprises inserting the device through an incision formed in the subject.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the incision is less than 15 cm in length.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the incision is less than 7.5 cm in length.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-invasive adjustment of the scoliosis treatment device may be performed a plurality of times.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of times may occur over a span of more than one week.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising subsequently removing the scoliosis treatment device from the body of the subject.
10. A method of treating scoliosis comprising:
locating an external adjustment device external to a subject within which a scoliosis treatment device has been secured to first and second locations on a subject's skeletal system, the scoliosis treatment device comprising a first portion, a second portion moveably mounted relative to the first portion, and an adjustment device disposed on the device and configured to change a distraction force between the first location and the second location, the adjustment device comprising a rotationally mounted magnetic element, wherein the external adjustment device comprises first and second rotating magnetic fields rotating about separate axes, the first and second rotating magnetic fields being disposed on the same side of the subject's body; and
non-invasively adjusting the scoliosis treatment device by rotating the first and second magnetic fields of the external adjustment device so as to increase the distraction force between the first location and second location.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second rotating magnetic fields emanate from first and second permanent magnets.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein opposing poles of the first and second rotating magnets of the external adjustment device are angularly synchronized during rotation.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-invasive adjustment of the scoliosis treatment device is performed a plurality of times.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of times occur over a span of more than one week.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the scoliosis treatment device is configured to be subsequently removed from the body of the subject.
16. A method of treating scoliosis comprising:
supplying a scoliosis treatment device configured to be secured to first and second locations on a subject's skeletal system, the scoliosis treatment device comprising a first portion, a second portion moveably mounted relative to the first portion, and an adjustment device disposed on the device and configured to change a distraction force between the first location and the second location, the adjustment device comprising a rotationally mounted magnetic element, wherein the scoliosis treatment device is configured to be non-invasively adjusted by an external adjustment device external to the subject, the external adjustment device comprising first and second rotating magnetic fields rotating about separate axes, the first and second rotating magnetic fields being disposed on the same side of the subject's body, wherein rotating the first and second magnetic fields of the external adjustment device increases the distraction force between the first location and second location.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first and second rotating magnetic fields emanate from first and second permanent magnets.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein opposing poles of the first and second rotating magnets of the external adjustment device are angularly synchronized during rotation.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the scoliosis treatment device is configured to be inserted through an incision formed in the subject.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the non-invasive adjustment of the scoliosis treatment device may be performed a plurality of times.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the scoliosis treatment device may be removed from the body of the subject.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein rotation of the first and second rotating magnetic fields applies a torque of greater than 4 ounce-inches to the magnetic element.
23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the magnetic element has a mass of less than 3 grams.
24. A method of treating scoliosis comprising:
supplying a scoliosis treatment device configured to be secured to first and second locations on a subject's skeletal system, the scoliosis treatment device comprising a first portion, a second portion moveably mounted relative to the first portion, and an adjustment device disposed on the device and configured to change a distraction force between the first location and the second location, the adjustment device comprising a rotationally mounted magnetic element, wherein the scoliosis treatment device is configured to be non-invasively adjusted by an external adjustment device;
supplying an external adjustment device configured to be located external to the subject, the external adjustment device comprising first and second rotating magnetic fields rotating about separate axes, the first and second rotating magnetic fields being disposed on the same side of the subject's body, wherein rotating the first and second magnetic fields of the external adjustment device increases the distraction force between the first location and second location.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first and second rotating magnetic fields emanate from first and second permanent magnets.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein opposing poles of the first and second rotating magnets of the external adjustment device are angularly synchronized during rotation.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the non-invasive adjustment of the scoliosis treatment device may be performed a plurality of times.
28. The method of claim 24 , wherein the scoliosis treatment device may be removed from the body of the subject.
29. The method of claim 24 , wherein rotation of the first and second rotating magnetic fields applies a torque of greater than 4 ounce-inches to the magnetic element.
30. The method of claim 24 , wherein the magnetic element has a mass of less than 3 grams.