WO2009049873A1

WO2009049873A1 - Coil arrangement for producing therapeutic electromagnetic fields

Info

Publication number: WO2009049873A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/008723
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werner Kraus; Stephanie Kraus; Heribert Stephan
Original assignee: Neue Magnetodyn Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-10-16
Filing date: 2008-10-15
Publication date: 2009-04-23
Also published as: DE102008021573A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a coil arrangement (36) for producing localized electromagnetic fields. Said arrangement comprises a wire-wound coil which has a point of intersection (38) and which defines two surfaces (40, 42) by its figure-eight shape, the surfaces (40, 42) being oriented relative each other in such a manner that the magnetic fields (44, 46) that are produced by a current flowing in the coil arrangement (36) and that penetrate the surfaces are substantially aligned in the same direction.

Description

Coil assembly for generating therapeutic electromagnetic fields

The invention relates to a coil arrangement for generating therapeutic electromagnetic fields.

The magnetic field treatment of extensive wounds of the soft tissue, the musculature and the skin can often accelerate the healing process considerably. In particular, there are diseases which are resistant to therapy with respect to antibiotic treatment, the latter being caused for example by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and other germs such as enterococci or pseudomonads. This resistance to therapy can be overcome by the magnetic field treatment.

Therapeutic successes can be seen, for example, in the treatment of poorly healing bone fractures as well as related mostly secondary diseases caused by bacteria. Even the so-called "open leg" (ulcus cruris) can be successfully treated with magnetic fields. Furthermore, dermatological applications fertilize, for example, for the treatment of large-scale chronic wounds of the skin, such as leg ulcers or burns, in connection with the magnetic field therapy play an important role. For example, higher level burns may require skin grafts prepared by externally applied magnetic fields and assisted in healing after transplantation. The applied electromagnetic alternating fields have, for example, a magnetic field strength of 1 to 5 mT and a sinusoidal profile with a frequency of 1 to 20 Hz. The fields are generated by magnetic coils which are excited with a corresponding alternating current. In this case, different coil arrangements can be used, for example solenoid coils or Helmholtz coils, depending on the application and desired magnetic field direction.

In connection with the coils used, there is a desire to provide an arrangement which is as manageable as possible, which in particular should be portable and can be used in connection with a large number of diseases.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a coil assembly which is convenient and flexible in practice.

This object is achieved with the features of the independent claim.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

The invention consists of a coil arrangement for generating localized electromagnetic fields, having a coil winding having an intersection point, which defines two surfaces by an eight-shaped configuration, the surfaces being aligned with each other such that the surfaces generated by a current flow in the coil arrangement penetrating magnetic fields substantially are rectified. The effect of two separate induction coils with the same direction of their magnetic field, in which the damaged body region is stored, can be achieved in this way, even with a single coil. This makes the application comfortable, especially due to the reduced equipment cost.

Usefully, it is provided that the coil arrangement is flexible, so that the surfaces can be arranged on opposite sides of a body region to be exposed to a magnetic field. Due to their flexible winding, which can be effected in particular by an elasticity of the materials involved, the transformation in the sense of a figure of eight or infinity is possible. The "loops" of the coil resulting from this deformation of the coil winding can be applied, for example, on both sides of a limb. You can have the same or different sizes depending on the application. Due to its flexibility, the coil arrangement can be used in a very versatile manner, in particular in the case of all illnesses mentioned in the introduction. Also in the jaw area, the coil arrangement can be applied by the loops, similar to a pulled down swimming goggles, are arranged on both sides of the upper and / or lower jaw. Metallic dental implants can then interact in a useful manner with the magnetic field, in particular also transmitter coils or secondary coils, in which an electrical voltage is induced by the coil arrangement according to the invention acting as a primary coil. This electrical voltage can bring with suitable contacting against each other electrically insulated dental implant areas as tissue electrodes to the effect, so that in addition to the direct effect of the magnetic field and therapeutically useful electrical Fields are available. With this technique of inductive transmission of therapeutically effective electrical potentials on the dental implants, the risk of infection is avoided by otherwise used percutaneous power lines, and the treatment parameters voltage, frequency, intensity, waveform and treatment time with the indication-specific programming of a functional current generator of the inducing magnetic field can be determined.

In connection with the design of the coil arrangement, provision can be made for fastening means cooperating at two positions of the coil arrangement facing away from the intersection point, by means of which the alignment of the surfaces to one another to be created and maintained. The fastening means can be realized for example by means of straps, snaps, Velcro fasteners, buckles and the like.

In a particularly advantageous manner, it can be provided that the point of intersection of the coil arrangement can be fixed by a coupling device. Such a coupling device can be realized, for example, by means of an elastic or flexible band with Velcro fastener or belt buckle.

It is of particular advantage that the position of the crossing point and thus the dimensions of the surfaces are variable. By thus selectable area ratio of the coil loops, the magnetic induction flux density, which is defined as the quotient of the magnetic flux and the surface considered, adjustable. The ratio of the induction flux densities is the reciprocal of the ratio the respectively associated surfaces. The area ratio of the two loops can be selected according to the therapeutic requirements, by allowing a variable fixation of the crossing point by variable arrangement of the coupling device. For example, in a target region of the body, a high magnetic induction flux density can be obtained by bringing a small-area coil loop close to it while, with respect to the other large-area coil surface for providing the Helmholtz coil effect, mainly due to its parallel arrangement with the smaller area pay attention.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the coil arrangement is developed such that it has plastic properties. Due to the flexibility of the coil, an adaptation to the body region to be treated is made possible, while the plasticity keeps the coil arrangement in the molded-on position. The plastic properties can thus support other fastening devices, such as buckles or clamps, or even provide for the maintenance of the coil in the desired shape.

It is usefully provided that the plastic properties are mediated by at least one plastic material component which surrounds and / or is embedded by at least one non-plastic material component. The coil can therefore be made on the one hand from a flexible material, without it being important if this has plastic properties. The plastic properties of the coil are then replaced by a plastic material. rialkomponente mediates, so that the coil remains entirely in the created by the deformation position.

This can be realized in particular in that the at least one plastic material component is formed by at least one vein of plastic material extending substantially parallel to the coil windings. One or more such wires are wholly or partially parallel to the windings of the coil. A coil constructed in this manner is particularly easy to manufacture.

Usefully, it is contemplated that the coil assembly comprises a coil winding having n crossing points defining n + 1 faces, wherein adjacent faces may include different angles due to flexibility of the coil assembly, and at an included angle of 180 degrees the magnetic field passing through adjacent faces have opposite directions and at an included angle of 0 degrees, the adjacent one

Surface-flooded magnetic fields have the same directions. The coil arrangement used in connection with the system according to the invention is thus not limited to being used in an eight-shaped configuration in which a crossing point and two surfaces are present; rather, more complicated geometric structures can be realized, for example a flexible coil shaped in this way, which defines two crossing points and three magnetically relevant surfaces. If the points of intersection are designed such that they are caused by a warpage of the coil surface through 180 °, then the magnetic fields passing through the various surfaces have in each case the opposite orientation, this applies if, in addition to the connection fertil the flexible coil is made no other deformation. However, the coil can be shaped differently in a flexible manner, so that different surfaces can each be coupled in pairs in such a way that the magnetic fields passing therethrough are rectified. For example, using a coil with two points of intersection, and thus three surfaces, the middle surface may be placed, for example, under the pelvis or on the abdomen or around the hip of a patient, while the side surfaces are flattened to match the central surface enclose an angle of about 180 ° or 90 ° and thereby be brought, for example, close to the pelvic bone of a patient. The magnetic field lines which then pass through one of the lateral surfaces thus also run through the central area.

It is of particular advantage that an angle (α) of crossing coil sections is adjustable. The magnetic flux density in the vicinity of the crossing point of the coil winding is dependent on the direction of the coil currents, which flow through the winding sections of the junction. The magnetic flux density can be increased from its value present at a blunt crossing angle to almost twice the value at acute angles, which can be achieved by transitioning to approximately parallel current flow in the winding sections of the intersection. This possibility of locally increasing the flux density in the area of the winding junction is of considerable importance for, for example, the therapy of poorly healing surgical wounds of the skin and of the subcutaneous tissue after osteosynthesis in the case of at-risk patients, that is to say in particular Circulatory disordered patients, diabetics, smokers and patients with critical cortisol levels and others.

The adjustability of the angle can be realized in that crossing coil sections are guided by a coupling device with at least two relatively movable components, wherein the angle of the intersecting coil sections is adjustable by a relative movement of the components. The two movable components can be realized, for example, as two circular disks with respective guidance for the intersecting coil sections. By rotating the circular disks relative to one another about their common axis, the angle between the coil sections, and thus the local magnetic flux density, also changes.

With the coil arrangement according to the invention it is achieved that the magnetic field of the two opposing loops of the coil assembly by the spatial reversal of the current direction in one of the two loops, as in the arrangement of two separate coils according to Helmholtz, rectified, with a particularly good and flexible handling is made available. Simple handling in the adaptation of the geometric shape of the coil arrangement to the position of the respective bone or soft tissue lesion is made possible. For example, the loop areas can be adapted to treatment areas such as the foot, knee lower leg, thigh, pelvis, spine, hand, forearm, upper arm, jaw and cranial region, by varying the loop sizes also with regard to the strength of the magnetic field. Another property of the coil arrangement according to the invention is an increase in the flux density in the vicinity of the crossing point, so that a ne relatively strong magnetic field concentration on a small body area is made possible. In this way, highly localized diseases, such as abscesses and infections, can be effectively treated.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of particularly preferred embodiments.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a flexible coil arrangement;

FIG. 2 shows a flexible coil arrangement according to the invention in a state outside its application;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a coil assembly according to the invention during its use;

Figure 4 is a schematic representation for explaining the spatial orientation of a magnetic field generated by a coil arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a coil assembly with plastic properties;

FIG. 6 shows a flexible coil arrangement according to the invention in a further state outside its application; FIG. 7 shows a flexible coil arrangement according to the invention in a further state outside its application;

FIG. 8 shows components of a coupling device for adjusting a coil arrangement according to the invention and FIG

9 shows a coupling device for adjusting a coil arrangement according to the invention.

In the following description of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar components.

FIG. 1 shows a flexible coil arrangement. FIG. 2 shows a flexible coil arrangement according to the invention in a state outside its application. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a coil arrangement according to the invention during its application. FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation for explaining the spatial orientation of a magnetic field generated by a coil arrangement according to the invention. If one uses the flexibility of the coil arrangement 36 to bring them into an octagonal shape, two surfaces 40, 42 and a crossing point 38 are defined. The point of intersection 38 is fixed by a coupling device 60 and can preferably be displaced, so that the ratio of the surfaces 40, 42 is variable. For example, can serve as a coupling device 60, an elastic band with Velcro or belt buckle. It is also conceivable to equip the surfaces of the coil arrangement so that they form the components of a hook and loop fastener and in this way can adhere directly to one another at various points. Around To facilitate the setting, notes or scales can be provided in the range of variation. The user can orient themselves to these if he wishes to make a certain fixation of the crossing point 38. If an alternating current flows through such a coil arrangement 36, the induced magnetic fields have opposite directions, as indicated by the vector symbols 44, 46. Due to the flexibility of the coil assembly 36 but this can also be brought into a different shape. This is illustrated in connection with Figure 3, which also shows a fractured bone leg as an example of a body region with any of the aforementioned diseases. Now the surfaces 40, 42 face each other and the magnetic fields generated in the respective segments of the coil have the same direction. This is illustrated again in FIG. 4, which also shows an AC generator 62 coupled to the coil arrangement, namely by the uniform magnetic field vector 44, 46, which penetrates both surfaces 40, 42. According to FIG. 3, the magnetic field penetrates the diseased body region essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the limb. It is also possible that the extremity penetrates the surfaces defined by the loops of the octahedral coil, so that then the magnetic field runs substantially parallel to the axis of the limb.

FIG. 5 shows a sectioned partial perspective view of a coil arrangement with plastic properties. Within the coil arrangement 36, the electrically conductive coil winding 64 can be seen. In addition, two cores 66 made of plastic material are provided parallel to the coil winding 64, which give the coil assembly 36 a total of plastic flexibility. FIG. 6 shows an elastic coil arrangement according to the invention in a further state outside its application. Compared to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the coil order shown here does not have a crossing point 38 and two magnetically active surfaces 40, 42, but two crossing points 38, 64 and three magnetically active surfaces 40, 42, 66. The central area 42 is larger than the outer areas 40, 66, whereby the coil arrangement can be used such that, for example, the middle part of the coil arrangement which defines the area 42 which lies under the pelvis, or on the stomach, or the hip of a patient, while the outer loops of the coil assembly which define the smaller surfaces 40, 66 are aligned as needed, for example, in the area of the pelvic bone to form an angle of 180 ° and 90 ° with the large loop. Numerous other variations are conceivable. For example, it is also possible to bring the outer surfaces 40, 66 into the region of the thighs in order to have a positive effect on fractures or necroses of the pelvic bones, the hip joints or the hip. The embodiment according to FIG. 6 makes it clear that the coil arrangement according to the invention can be used in a particularly wide variety of variants due to its flexibility. This affects both the shape of the coil assembly 36 and the magnetic properties. FIG. 6 shows a deformation of the coil arrangement 36 in which the magnetic fields 44, 46, 68 of adjacent surfaces 40, 42, 66 each have opposite directions. However, it is also conceivable that, for example, the loop defining the surface 66 is arranged with renewed warping of the intersection point 64 in such a way that the adjacent surfaces 42, 66 penetrating magnetic fields are rectified. If, for example, the lateral surfaces 40, 66 are then moved in such a way that they define planes perpendicular to the plane of the paper, the field lines penetrating these magnetic fields can be coupled to each other, while in a design of the magnetic fields, as shown in FIG lateral surfaces penetrating magnetic fields with the central surface 42 penetrating magnetic field is expected.

FIG. 7 shows an elastic coil arrangement according to the invention in a further state outside its application. However, the angle α, with which the coil sections 74, 76 intersect, is sharper here than in the design according to FIG. 2. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the current vectors of the intersecting coil sections are nearly equal perpendicular to each other, while in the embodiment of Figure 7 in the crossing point not vertical power components are present and thus parallel

Vector components of the current are effective. This leads to an increase in the magnetic flux density at the point of intersection of the coil arrangement 36, so that a local increase in the magnetic flux density can be achieved. The advantageous gain of the flux density can also at

Crossing points of more complex coil shapes can be realized, for example, in that of Figure 6.

FIG. 8 shows components of a coupling device for setting a coil arrangement according to the invention, and FIG. 9 shows a coupling device for setting a coil arrangement according to the invention. It is illustrated in what way the variability of the angle by itself crossing coil sections 74, 76 can be achieved. In the present example, this is done by two components 70, 72, each leading a coil section 74, 76 in each case an elongated recess 78, 80. If these two components 70, 42 are rotatably connected relative to one another about their common axis 82, a change in the angle in the region of the crossing point can be achieved by such rotation, which is indicated by the arrows in FIG.

The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential to the realization of the invention both individually and in any combination.

List of reference numbers:

36 coil arrangement

38 crossing point

40 area

42 area

44 magnetic field / magnetic field vector / vector symbol 46 magnetic field / magnetic field vector / vector symbol

48 fasteners

50 fasteners

60 coupling device

62 alternator 64 coil winding

66 Plastic vein

68 magnetic field / magnetic field vector / vector symbol

70 component of the coupling device

72 Component of the Coupling Device 74 Coil section

76 coil section

78 recess

80 recess

82 axis 84 crossing point

86 area

Claims

A coil arrangement for generating localized electromagnetic fields, comprising a coil winding having an intersection point (38), which defines two surfaces (40, 42) by an octagonal shape, the surfaces (40, 42) being aligned with each other such that one of generated by a current flow in the coil assembly (36), the surface penetrating magnetic fields (44, 46) are substantially rectified.

2. Coil arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the coil arrangement (36) is flexible, so that the surfaces (40, 42) can be arranged on opposite sides of a body region to be exposed to a magnetic field.

3. coil assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at two the intersection point (38) facing away from positions of the coil assembly cooperating fastening means (48, 50) are provided by the alignment of the surfaces (40, 42) created and maintained each other can.

4. coil arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intersection point (38) of the coil arrangement by a coupling device (60) is fixable.

5. Coil arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the crossing point (38) and thus the dimensions of the surfaces (40, 42) are variable.

6. coil assembly according to one of the preceding claims che, characterized in that it has plastic properties.

7. coil assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the plastic properties are mediated by at least one plastic material component, which surrounds at least one non-plastic material component and / or is embedded by this.

8. coil assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one plastic material component is formed by at least one substantially parallel to the coil windings extending vein of plastic material.

9. Coil arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coil arrangement (36) has a coil winding with n crossing points (38, 84) which defines n + 1 surfaces (40, 42, 86), wherein adjacent surfaces due to a flexibility The coil order may include different angles, wherein at an included angle of 180 degrees the adjacent surfaces have magnetic fields (44, 46, 68) in opposite directions and at an included angle of 0 degrees the magnetic fields passing through adjacent surfaces will have equal directions ,

10. Coil arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an angle (α) of crossing coil sections (74, 76) is adjustable.

11. Coil arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that crossing coil sections (74, 76) are guided by a coupling device (60) with at least two relatively movable components (70, 72), wherein the angle (α) of the intersecting coil sections (74, 76) is adjustable by a relative movement of the components (70, 72).