Patent · US Expired

Techniques for controlling osteoporosis using non-invasive magnetic fields

US5267939A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
31References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 10, 1991
Grant dateDec 7, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 10, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N2/02
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for preventing and therapeutically treating osteoporosis are provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generator for producing a controlled, fluctuating, directionally oriented magnetic field parallel to a predetermined axis projecting through the target bone or skeletal system. In one aspect, a field detector samples the magnetic flux density along the predetermined axis and provides a signal to a microprocessor which determines the average value of the flux density. The applied magnetic field is oscillated at predetermined frequencies to maintain a preselected ratio of frequency to average flux density which controls osteoporosis. This ratio is maintained by adjusting the frequency of the fluctuating magnetic field and/or by adjusting the intensity of the applied magnetic field as the composite magnetic flux density changes in response to changes in the local magnetic field to which the target bone is subjected.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.