Treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis and stimulating bone growth
An apparatus for the treatment or prevention of osteopenia and osteoporosis, stimulating bone growth, preserving or improving bone mineral density, and inhibiting adipogenesis is described where one embodiment may comprise a motor configured to be in vibrational conductance with an area of the subject, one or more sensors in communication with the motor for receiving feedback relating to the vibrational conductance, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller may be configured to receive the feedback through the one or more sensors and determine an amount of vibrational conductance transmitted to the area of the subject such that the feedback is correlated to a fit of the motor relative to the area of the subject. Additionally, the controller may be further configured to adjust one or more parameters of the motor in response to the correlated fit until the feedback is optimized within a predetermined range for treatment.
1 . A vibration device for positioning against a subject, comprising:
a motor configured to be in vibrational contact with an area of the subject;
a support for maintaining the motor in vibrational contact with the area of the subject;
one or more motor sensors in communication and proximity with the motor for receiving a first feedback relating to one or more parameters of the motor;
an accelerometer positioned along the support for providing a second feedback relating to a fit of the motor relative to the area of the subject, wherein the accelerometer is positioned to face the subject in contact against the area such that the fit of the motor relative to the area is indicative of a tightness of the motor against the area;
a controller in communication with the motor and the accelerometer, wherein the controller is configured to receive the first feedback through the one or more motor sensors relating to motor movement or motor frequency and determine an amount of vibrational energy to be applied to the area of the subject which is sufficient for transferring the vibrational energy to bone within a body of the subject,
wherein the motor, the one or more motor sensors, and the controller are contained within an enclosure worn by the subject such that the vibration device is portable when secured to the subject, and
wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the one or more parameters of the motor in response to the first feedback relating to motor movement or motor frequency and further in response to the second feedback relating to the fit of the motor relative to the area of the subject until the first feedback relating to motor movement or motor frequency and the second feedback relating to the fit of the motor are adjusted to be within a predetermined range during a treatment.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a band configured to be secured to the subject.
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the motor is configured to transmit vibrations at a frequency of 1-100 Hz.
4 . The device of claim 1 wherein the motor is configured to transmit vibrations at a frequency of 25-35 Hz.
5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the motor is configured to transmit vibrations having an amplitude of 0.01 g to 10 g.
6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the motor is configured to transmit vibrations having an amplitude of 0.01 g to 4.0 g.
7 . The device of claim 1 wherein an additional sensor comprises a pressure sensor for determining a pressure of the vibrational contact upon the area of the subject.
8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the second feedback from the accelerometer is used by the controller for determining the vibrational energy applied to the area of the subject.
9 . The device of claim 1 wherein an additional sensor is selected from the group consisting of contact sensors, strain gauges, and gyroscopes.
10 . The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to provide a signal to adjust the support in response to the second feedback.
11 . The device of claim 10 further comprising a second motor or actuator which is actuated via a thermal, mechanical, or electrical mechanism.
12 . The device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined range is dynamically adjustable based on the first feedback received from an additional sensor.
13 . The device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined range is preset based on one or more parameters of the subject selected from the group consisting of weight, height, age, sex, area to be treated, and time of treatment.
14 . The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to be worn by the subject against the area.
15 . The device of claim 14 wherein the device is configured to be positioned against a hip or spine of the subject.
16 . The device of claim 1 further comprising an indicator which is configured to alert the subject to adjust the device against the area.
17 . The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive the first feedback from the one or more motor sensors intermittently or continuously.
18 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a spacer in communication with the motor and configured for directing vibrations into the area of the subject, wherein the spacer is maintained relative to the motor and is configured to dampen the vibrations.
19 . The device of claim 18 wherein the spacer is comprised of foam.
20 . A method of positioning a vibration device against a subject, comprising:
securing a motor on a support to be in vibrational contact with an area of the subject;
actuating the motor to transmit vibrational energy to the area;
sensing a first feedback via one or more motor sensors in communication and proximity with the motor and also in communication with a controller, wherein the one or more motor sensors are configured for sensing one or more parameters of the motor relating to motor movement or motor frequency;
sensing a second feedback via an accelerometer positioned along the support for providing a second feedback relating to a fit of the motor relative to the area of the subject, wherein the accelerometer is positioned to face the subject in contact against the area such that the fit of the motor relative to the area is indicative of a tightness of the motor against the area;
adjusting the fit of the motor relative to the area based on the first feedback and the second feedback, wherein the motor, the one or more motor sensors, and the controller are contained within an enclosure worn by the subject such that the vibration device is portable when secured to the subject;
determining an amount of the vibrational energy which is sufficient for transferring the vibrational energy to bone within a body of the subject; and
adjusting one or more parameters of the motor via the controller in response to the first feedback relating to motor movement or motor frequency and further in response to the second feedback relating to the fit of the motor relative to the area of the subject until the first feedback relating to motor movement or motor frequency and the second feedback relating to the fit of the motor are adjusted to be within a predetermined range during a treatment.
21 . The method of claim 20 wherein securing the motor to be in vibrational contact comprises positioning the motor against the area via a band secured to the subject.
22 . The method of claim 20 wherein securing the motor to be in vibrational contact comprises positioning the motor against a hip or spine of the subject.
23 . The method of claim 20 wherein securing the motor to be in vibrational contact comprises positioning the motor against a foot or lower limb of the subject.
24 . The method of claim 20 wherein actuating the motor to transmit vibrational energy comprises transmitting vibrations at a frequency of 1-100 Hz.
25 . The method of claim 20 wherein actuating the motor to transmit vibrational energy comprises transmitting vibrations at a frequency of 25-35 Hz.
26 . The method of claim 20 wherein actuating the motor to transmit vibrational energy comprises transmitting vibrations having an amplitude of 0.01 g to 10 g.
27 . The method of claim 20 wherein actuating the motor to transmit vibrational energy comprises transmitting vibrational energy having an amplitude of 0.01 g to 4.0 g.
28 . The method of claim 20 wherein sensing the first feedback via one or more motor sensors comprises sensing a pressure of the vibrational contact via one or more pressure sensors upon the area of the subject.
29 . The method of claim 20 wherein sensing the first feedback via one or more motor sensors comprises sensing the vibrational energy via one or more additional accelerometers upon the area of the subject.
30 . The method of claim 20 wherein sensing the first feedback via one or more motor sensors comprises receiving the first feedback from the one or more motor sensors intermittently or continuously.
31 . The method of claim 20 wherein adjusting the one or more parameters of the motor via the controller comprises automatically adjusting via the controller in communication with the motor an amount of vibrational energy transmitted to the area of the subject in response to the first feedback.
32 . The method of claim 31 further comprising actuating a second motor or actuator which is actuated via a thermal, mechanical, or electrical mechanism.
33 . The method of claim 31 wherein adjusting the amount of the vibrational energy comprises adjusting the fit of the motor against the area of the subject based upon a periodic check of the fit.
34 . The method of claim 20 wherein the predetermined range is preset based on one or more parameters of the subject selected from the group consisting of weight, height, age, sex, area to be treated, and time of treatment.
35 . The method of claim 20 further comprising alerting the subject via an alarm to adjust the fit of the device against the area.
36 . The method of claim 20 wherein the vibration device further comprises a spacer in communication with the motor and configured for directing vibrations into the area is maintained relative to the motor and is configured to dampen the vibrations.
37 . The method of claim 36 wherein the spacer is comprised of foam.