APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE
A magnetic stimulation device has components for positioning a patient into a correct treatment position, and for improving patient comfort. The methods may be used for improving the effectiveness of the stimulation by setting a magnetic field generating device in appropriate position by using feedback information.
1 - 87 . (canceled)
88 . A magnetic stimulation device for treating a patient by a time-varying magnetic field including a connection to an energy source, a switching device, an energy storage device, a magnetic field generating device and a patient support including a bed or a seating portion of a chair,
the magnetic field generating device is in or below the patient support in proximity of a patient's pelvis;
the switch is configured to enable discharging the energy storage device to the magnetic field generating device in order to generate the time-varying magnetic field;
wherein the device includes a positioning mechanism for translational and/or rotational movement of the magnetic field generating device with respect to the patient and the patient support.
89 . A magnetic stimulation device for treating a patient by a time-varying magnetic field including a connection to an energy source, a switching device, an energy storage device, a magnetic field generating device and a patient support including a bed or a seating portion of a chair,
the magnetic field generating device is in or below the patient support in proximity of a patient's pelvis;
the switching device is electrically connected to the energy storage device to enable a controlled discharge to the magnetic field generating device in order to generate the time-varying magnetic field;
wherein the magnetic stimulation device further includes a front resting apparatus for maintaining the patient in a bent or reclined position in a range of −45° to 90° with respect to vertical.
90 . The device of claim 89 wherein the front resting apparatus is moveable separately from the magnetic treatment device.
91 . The device of claim 89 wherein the front resting apparatus includes a sensor for measuring a distance of the front resting apparatus from the magnetic stimulation device and/or an inclination of the front resting apparatus.
92 . The device of claim 91 wherein a distance of the front resting apparatus from the magnetic stimulation device as measured by the distance sensor is evaluated by a processing unit in order to maintain the patient in safe position.
93 . The device of claim 89 wherein the front resting apparatus is adapted to be in contact with a patient's body part including a hand, a forearm or chest of the patient.
94 . A magnetic stimulation device for treating a patient by a time-varying magnetic field including a connection to an energy source, a control unit, a switching device, an energy storage device, a magnetic field generating device and a patient support including a bed or a chair:
wherein the magnetic field generating device is in the patient support and/or beneath the patient support of the magnetic stimulation device; and
wherein the magnetic field generating device is within proximity and beneath a pelvic floor of the patient;
wherein the control unit is configured to control the switching device;
wherein the energy storage device is electrically connected with the magnetic field generating device to be discharged to the magnetic field generating device which generates the time-varying magnetic field with a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.1 to 7 T, a repetition rate in a range of 1 to 700 Hz, an impulse duration in a range of 10 to 1000 μs and with a treatment duty cycle over 10%;
wherein the magnetic field generating device includes a litz-wire;
wherein the magnetic field generating is cooled.
95 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 94 wherein the magnetic stimulation device further includes a sensor which determines an operation parameter of the magnetic stimulation device including voltage, current or magnetic flux density.
96 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 95 wherein the control unit is configured to process a determined operation parameter value and wherein the control unit is configured to determine an unintended event including a metal object within proximity of the magnetic field generating device and/or a hardware error of the magnetic stimulation device and wherein the control unit is configured to cease and/or to provide a notification to an operator if the unintended event is determined by the control unit.
97 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 95 wherein the control unit is configured to process a determined operation parameter value and wherein the control unit is configured to provide a notification including a maximal value of at least one treatment parameter including the magnetic flux density, the repetition rate, the impulse duration and a treatment duration to an operator in a human perceptible form based on the operation parameter value measured by the sensor.
98 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 95 wherein the control unit is configured to process a determined operation parameter value and wherein the control unit is configured to evaluate the determined operation parameter value in order to provide energy to the energy storage device.
99 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 94 wherein the magnetic field generating device includes a conductor of diameter less than 0.5 mm.
100 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 94 wherein the magnetic stimulation devices includes a blower on a circumference of the magnetic field generating device.
101 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 94 wherein the magnetic field generating device is cooled by a cooling media parallel with the magnetic field generating device.
102 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 94 wherein the magnetic field generating device is cooled by a cooling media flow over at least upper and lower side.
103 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 94 wherein the magnetic stimulation device further includes a device which generates electromagnetic waves which includes a high-frequency generator, a balun transformer, a transmatch and an electrode;
wherein the electrode is configured to generate the electromagnetic waves with a frequency in a range of 1 MHz to 3 GHz; and
wherein the electrode is in the patient support and within proximity and/or beneath a pelvic floor of the patient.
104 . A magnetic stimulation device for treating a patient by a time-varying magnetic field including a connection to an energy source, a switching device, an energy storage device, a magnetic field generating device and a patient support including a bed or a chair:
wherein the magnetic field generating device is in the patient support and/or beneath the patient support of the magnetic stimulation device; and
wherein the magnetic field generating device is within proximity and beneath a pelvic floor of the patient;
wherein the energy storage device is electrically connected with the magnetic field generating device to be discharged to the magnetic field generating device which generates the time-varying magnetic field with a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.1 to 7 T, a repetition rate in a range of 1 to 700 Hz, an impulse duration in a range of 10 to 1000 μs and with a treatment duty cycle over 10%;
wherein the magnetic field generating device is cooled;
wherein the magnetic stimulation device enables generating magnetic pulses with a variable repetition rate and/or a variable magnetic flux density during one treatment;
wherein the magnetic stimulation device enables assembling magnetic pulses into a sinusoidal, triangular, saw-tooth, trapezoidal or exponential shape.
105 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 104 wherein the magnetic field generating device includes a litz-wire.
106 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 105 wherein the magnetic field generating device include a conductor of diameter less than 3 mm.
107 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 104 wherein the magnetic stimulation devices includes a blower on a circumference of the magnetic field generating device.
108 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 104 wherein the magnetic field generating device is cooled by a cooling media parallel with the magnetic field generating device.
109 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 104 wherein the magnetic field generating device is cooled by a cooling media flow over at least upper and lower side.
110 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 104 wherein the magnetic field generating device is in a serial connection with the energy storage device.
111 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 110 wherein the switching device is in a parallel connection with the serial connection of the magnetic field generating device and the energy storage device.
112 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 104 wherein the switching device is in a parallel to the energy source in order to enable controlled shorting of the energy source.
113 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 104 wherein the magnetic stimulation device further includes sensor which determines an operation parameter including a voltage, a current or a magnetic flux density.
114 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 113 wherein an unintended event is determined by a control unit based on information from the sensor determining the operation parameter;
wherein the unintended event includes a proximity of a metal object or a hardware error of the magnetic stimulation device.
115 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 114 wherein the control unit is configured to cease a treatment if the unintended event is determined.
116 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 113 wherein a control unit is configured to process a determined operation parameter value and wherein the control unit is configured to provide a notification including a maximal value of at least one treatment parameter including the magnetic flux density, the repetition rate, the impulse duration and a treatment duration to an operator in a human perceptible form based on operation parameter value measured by the sensor in order to maintain a casing of the magnetic field generating device up to 43° C.
117 . The magnetic stimulation device of claim 104 wherein the magnetic stimulation device further includes a device which generates electromagnetic waves which includes high-frequency generator, a balun transformer, a transmatch and an electrode
wherein the electrode is configured to generate the electromagnetic waves with a frequency in a range of 1 MHz to 3 GHz; and
wherein the electrode is in the patient support and within proximity and/or beneath a pelvic floor of the patient.