Method and apparatus for electromagnetic treatment of multiple sclerosis
Methods and apparatuses (including systems, devices, etc.) for the treatment of neurological disorders, and particularly multiple sclerosis (MS) by the application of electromagnetic fields (EMF), and in particular, pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF), including a subset of PEMF in a radio frequency domain (e.g., pulse-modulated radio frequency or PRF). This treatment may prevent or delay the onset, and/or may reduce the severity of the onset of MS and MS-related symptoms.
1. A therapeutic garment device for treating a neurological condition by pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation, the device comprising:
a torso garment configured to be worn on a subject's torso, the torso garment having a back and a neck portion, the back including a middle region:
a plurality of wire coil PEMF applicators extending down the middle region of the back to treat the subject's spine, wherein the plurality of wire coil PEMF applicators comprises a plurality of substantially coplanar loops arranged adjacent to each other in a line down the back:
a neck wire coil PEMF applicator on the neck portion to treat the patient's brain stem and cervical spine; and
a PEMF signal generator integrated into the torso garment, wherein the PEMF signal generator is configured to deliver a treatment dose comprising a PEMF signal, wherein the PEMG signal generator is connected to the plurality of wire coil PEMF applicators and the neck wire coil PEMF applicator.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the PEMF signal generator is configured to generate the PEMF signal comprising bursts of 10 MHz carrier waves, wherein the bursts repeat at between 0.01 and 10 Hz have a field strength of between 1 and 200 miliGauss.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the PEMF signal generator is configured to generate the PEMF signal comprising bursts of 10 MHz sinusoidal carrier waves, wherein the bursts repeat at between 0.1 and 5 Hz have a field strength of between 1 and 200 miliGauss.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the PEMF signal generator is configured to generate the PEMF signal comprising bursts of 10 MHz sinusoidal carrier waves having a burst width of between 5 and 20 msec, wherein the bursts repeat at 1 Hz and have a field strength of between 1 and 200 miliGauss.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the torso garment is configured as a vest.
6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply integrated into the torso garment.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the neck portion comprises a reinforced high collar.
8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising wiring within a fabric of the torso garment connecting the PEMF signal generator to the plurality of wire coil PEMF applicators and the neck wire coil PEMF applicator.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the signal generator is configured to limit the number of doses deliverable within a 24 hour period to 12 or less.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the signal generator comprises a clock and further wherein the signal generator is configured to deliver treatment doses at night.
11. The therapeutic garment device of claim 1 , wherein the loops are single-turn loops.
12. A therapeutic garment device for treating multiple sclerosis by pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation, the device comprising:
a torso garment configured to be worn on a subject's torso, the torso garment having a back and a neck portion, the back including a middle region;
a plurality of wire coil PEMF applicators extending down the middle region of the back to treat the subject's spine, wherein the plurality of wire coil PEMF applicators comprises a plurality of substantially coplanar loops arranged adjacent to each other in a line down the back;
a neck wire coil PEMF applicator on the neck portion to treat the patient's brain stem and cervical spine; and
a PEMF signal generator integrated into the torso garment, wherein the PEMF signal generator is programmed to deliver a treatment dose comprising a PEMF signal comprising bursts of a 10 MHz carrier wave, wherein the bursts repeat at between 0.01 and 10 Hz, and wherein the PEMF signal generator is connected to the plurality of wire coils applicators and the neck wire coil PEMF applicator.
13. The therapeutic garment device of claim 12 , wherein the loops are single-turn loops.
14. A method of treating multiple sclerosis in a patient, the method comprising delivering a dose of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation having a field strength of between 1 and 200 milliGauss, wherein the PEMF stimulation comprises bursts of a 10 MHz carrier wave, wherein the bursts repeat at between 0.01 and 10 Hz, from one or more PEMF coils positioned against one or more of the patient's head, neck, and spine, wherein the bursts have a field strength of between 1 and 200 milliGauss.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering the PEMF stimulation comprises delivering the PEMF stimulation comprising bursts repeating at 1 Hz.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering the PEMF stimulation comprises delivering the PEMF stimulation comprising bursts having a 10 msec burst width.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering the PEMF stimulation comprises delivering the dose for 15 minutes or less.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering the PEMF stimulation comprises delivering the dose for 15 minutes or less for between one and 12 times a day.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering the PEMF stimulation comprises automatically delivering the dose while the patient is sleeping.
20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining a patient's sleep state and delivering the PEMF stimulation while the patient is sleeping.
21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising applying a plurality of additional doses without desensitizing the patient, wherein the additional doses each have different parameters for one or more of: burst repetition rate, burst widths, and field strength.
22. The method of claim 14 , further comprising applying a plurality of additional doses without desensitizing the patient, wherein the additional doses each have different parameters for one or more of: burst repetition rate between 0.01 and 10 Hz, burst widths between 1 msec and 100 msec, and field strength between 1 and 200 miliGauss.
23. The method of claim 14 , wherein said stimulation comprises delivering the dose of PEMF stimulation from a plurality of substantially coplanar loops of PEMF coils that are arranged adjacent to each other in a line down the patient's back.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the loops are coplanar.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the loops are single-turn loops.
26. A method of treating multiple sclerosis in a patient, the method comprising automatically delivering a dose of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation having a field strength of between 1 and 200 milliGauss while the patient is sleeping, wherein the PEMF stimulation comprises bursts of a 10 MHz carrier wave repeated at between 0.01 and 10 Hz, further wherein the PEMF stimulation is delivered from a plurality of PEMF coils positioned against one or more of the patient's head, neck, or spine.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein delivering the PEMF stimulation comprises delivering the PEMF stimulation comprising bursts repeating at 1 Hz.
28. The method of claim 26 , wherein delivering the PEMF stimulation comprises delivering the PEMF stimulation comprising bursts having a 10 msec burst width.
29. The method of claim 26 , wherein delivering the PEMF stimulation comprises delivering the dose for 15 minutes or less.
30. The method of claim 26 , further comprising determining a patient's sleep state.
31. The method of claim 26 , further comprising applying a plurality of additional doses without desensitizing the patient, wherein the additional doses each have different parameters for one or more of: burst repetition rate, burst widths, and field strength.
32. The method of claim 26 , further comprising applying a plurality of additional doses without desensitizing the patient, wherein the additional doses each have different parameters for one or more of: burst repetition rate between 0.01 and 10 Hz, burst widths between 1 msec and 100 msec, and field strength between 1 and 200 miliGauss.
33. The method of claim 26 , wherein the PEMF coils comprise a plurality of coplanar loops.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the loops are single-turn loops.