MAGNETIC FIELD THERAPY APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A MAGNETIC FIELD

Abstract

A magnetic field therapy apparatus includes a magnetic field generation device for generating a magnetic field that can be applied to a patient, and a control device for controlling an intensity of the magnetic field in such a way that the magnetic field intensity increases incrementally during a first interval T.sub.1 and is set to a constant level during a second interval (T.sub.2), the ratio of the first interval T.sub.1 to the second interval T.sub.2 corresponding to the golden section +/−0.1, preferably +/−0.01.

Claims

1. A magnetic field therapy apparatus, comprising: a magnetic field generating apparatus for generating a magnetic field which can be applied to a patient, and a control apparatus for controlling a field strength of the magnetic field such that a stepwise increase of the magnetic field strength takes place during a first time period (T.sub.1) and a constant field strength is set during a second period (T.sub.2), wherein a ratio of the first period (T.sub.1) to the second period (T.sub.2) corresponds to the golden section +/−0.1.

2. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one battery for providing a direct current for generating the magnetic field.

3. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is designed for readjusting the magnetic field strength.

4. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shielding device for shielding electromagnetic fields, wherein the shielding device comprises at least one perforated plate and/or a fabric web and/or is at least partially designed as a tent or housing.

5. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: in the first time period (T.sub.1), the time course of the magnetic signal comprises an increase in the magnetic field strength by specific field strength increments (ΔB.sub.1, ΔB.sub.2, . . . ΔB.sub.n) after specific time intervals (Δt.sub.1, Δt.sub.2, . . . Δt.sub.n), and/or increase in the magnetic field strength (B) respectively takes place after the same time intervals, and/or the generatable magnetic field strengths are between 0 μT and 150 μT and/or the incremental increments for the magnetic field strength lie between 2 μT and 60 μT and/or the time intervals between the increment steps lie between 5 and 8 seconds.

6. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the field strength in the second period (T.sub.2) is 15 to 40 μT.

7. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the first period (T.sub.1) is 28 to 58 seconds, and/or a cycle of the first (T.sub.1) and the second (T.sub.2) period is repeated 40 to 58 times or 30 to 42 times, and/or the total duration of the application lasts 50 to 66 minutes or 30 to 42 minutes.

8. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the field strength in the second period (T.sub.2) is 5 to 13 times as large as the field strength of a minimal stage in the first time period (T.sub.1), and/or 0.15 to 0.40 times as large as the field strength of a maximum stage in the first period (T.sub.1).

9. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the magnetic field generating apparatus comprises at least one conductor coil, wherein a first coil is oval or elliptical and/or has a maximum diameter of 1.5 to 2.0 meters, and/or the second coil has a round cross-section and/or a cross-section which is smaller than a cross-section of the first coil, and/or a central region of one or more of the at least one conductor coil is arranged in the abdominal area (solar plexus) of the patient.

10. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generating apparatus comprises a mat in which at least one coil is embedded.

11. A method for generating a magnetic field, using the magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field strength is increased stepwise in the first time period (T.sub.1) and the constant magnetic field strength is generated in the second time period (T.sub.2), wherein the ratio of the first (T.sub.1) to the second (T.sub.2) time period corresponds to the golden section +/−0.1.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein: in the first time period (T.sub.1), the time course of the magnetic field strength comprises an increase in the magnetic field strength by specific field strength increments (ΔB.sub.1, ΔB.sub.2, . . . ΔB.sub.n) after specific time intervals (Δt.sub.1, Δt.sub.2, . . . Δt.sub.n), and/or in the first time period (T.sub.1) the increase in the magnetic field strength is effected in each case after the same time intervals, and/or in the first time period (T.sub.1) the field strengths are generated between 0 μT and 150 μT and/or the incremental increments for the magnetic field strength are set between 2 μT and 60 μT and/or the time intervals between the increment steps are set between 5 and 8 seconds.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the field strength is readjusted.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein: the field strength in the second period (T.sub.2) is 15 to 40 μT, and/or the first time period is 28 to 58 seconds, and/or a cycle of the first and second time period is repeated 40 to 58 times or 30 to 42 times, and/or the total duration of the application is 50 to 66 minutes or 30 to 42 minutes, and/or the field strength in the second time period (T.sub.2) is 5 to 13 times as large as the field strength of a minimum stage in the first period (T.sub.1), and/or 0.15 to 0.40 times as large as the field strength of a maximum stage in the first time period (T.sub.1).

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein a direct current for generating the magnetic field is fed from a battery.

16. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first period (T.sub.1) to the second period (T.sub.2) corresponds to the golden section +/−0.01.

17. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the field strength in the second period (T.sub.2) is 20 to 30 μT.

18. A magnetic field therapy apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the field strength in the second period (T.sub.2) is 25.12 μT.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein the ratio of the first period (T.sub.1) to the second period (T.sub.2) corresponds to the golden section +/−0.01.

20. A method according to claim 11, wherein the field strength in the second period (T.sub.2) is 20 to 30 μT.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention is also described below with reference to further features and advantages with reference to an exemplary embodiment which is explained in more detail by reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a progression of the magnetic field strength B (t) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows an applicator according to an embodiment of the invention for applying the magnetic field, and

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a magnetic field therapy apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0033] In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for identical and interacting parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a magnetic signal B (t) generated by an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The magnetic field strength B (t) increases in the course of time in steps or stairs. After time intervals Δt.sub.1, Δt.sub.2, . . . Δt.sub.n, the field strength increases by field strength increments ΔB.sub.1, ΔB.sub.2, . . . ΔB.sub.n. A control apparatus (not shown) controls the generation of the magnetic field strength and its temporal course B (t). An essential component of the control unit is a programmable module with which a stair-shaped field strength signal B (t) can be generated within a first period T.sub.1 as well as a constant field strength signal within a time period T.sub.2. For example, the following signal course is generated:

6.28 seconds B=3.14 μT, then
6.28 seconds B=9.42 μT, then
6.28 seconds B=15.7 μT, then
6.28 seconds B=18.84 μT, then
6.28 seconds B=25/12 μT, then
6.28 seconds B=37.68 μT, then
6.28 seconds B=94/20 μT, then
720.17 seconds B=25.12 μT.

[0035] It applies that T.sub.1=43.96 seconds and T.sub.2=27.17 seconds. The ratio T.sub.1:T.sub.2=1.62 (rounded). Furthermore, the control apparatus is programmed in such a way that 49 repetitions are carried out. The application time thus takes a total of 58.09 minutes. A cycle of T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 lasts 71.13 seconds.

[0036] Alternatively, 31 repetitions of the cycle T.sub.1+T.sub.2 can also take place, which corresponds to a total application time of 36.75 minutes.

[0037] The magnetic field strengths lie between 3 and 100 μT (both in the time period T.sub.1 and in the time period T.sub.2), i.e. on the order of magnitude of the earth's magnetic field. After reaching the maximum field strength of 94.20 μT, the field strength is reduced to 25.12 μT at the end of the time period T.sub.1. Overall, it has been found that with this signal course a particularly good increase in the well-being of the patient can be achieved.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows an applicator 10 according to an embodiment of the invention, on which a patient 20 is positioned. The applicator 10 comprises a mat 11 in which a first conductor coil 12 (with an oval or elliptical cross-section) and a second conductor coil 13 (with a round cross-section) are embedded. The mat 10 has a surface of (about) 220 cm*120 cm and is (approximately) 2 to 3 cm thick and comprises a foam body. The conductor coils 12, 13 can be incorporated into this foam. The first coil 12 with the oval cross-section has a larger cross-sectional area. The cross-sectional area is designed in such a way that the entire body area of the patient can be covered so that the magnetic field can be applied in the region of the entire body of the patient.

[0039] For example, a longer diameter of the coil 12 is 190 to 220 cm long. A shorter diameter is, for example, 80 to 110 cm long.

[0040] The smaller coil 13 with the round cross-section is arranged such that it covers approximately the abdominal or torso area of the patient (in particular the solar plexus). For this purpose, the diameter of the small coil 13 is smaller (for example by at least 5% or at least 10%) than the shorter diameter of the first coil 12. The center of symmetry of both coil cross sections is (approximately) in the solar plexus region. The entire body of the patient can be covered on the one hand with the coils 12, 13. On the other hand, a superposed magnetic field can be generated in the solar plexus region or torso region.

[0041] In FIG. 3, the applicator 10 is placed on a patient couch 14. The patient couch 14 is surrounded by a shielding 15 so that external electromagnetic fields, for example electrosmog, can be shielded from treated patients. The shielding 15 can be used to prevent the therapy of the patient from being influenced or disturbed by external electromagnetic fields.

[0042] It can thus be achieved that the entire body of a patient is located in the region of influence of the generated magnetic field, without external electromagnetic interference fields. The apparatus thus permits a whole-body treatment, wherein the therapeutic effect is achieved by the appropriate modulation of the current intensity in the conductor coils and thus the magnetic field strength and also the induced electric fields. In this case, the current intensity for the conductor coils is adjusted by the control apparatus in such a way that the desired magnetic field strengths can be generated.

[0043] For example, corresponding programs can be stored (saved) in the control apparatus, so that the course of the magnetic field strength, as shown for example in FIG. 1, can be realised. It is possible to store (or save) two or more such programs in the same apparatus.

[0044] In order to control the magnetic field strength, the control apparatus comprises corresponding (generally known) structures, for example a control unit (e.g. microprocessor) and/or a display and/or an input means (e.g. touchscreen) and/or signal devices such as LEDs or acoustic signal devices and/or a memory device (memory chip).

[0045] The shielding 15 is preferably designed as an enclosure, i.e. it consists of a plurality of walls which surround the couch 14. The shielding 15, in particular its walls, can be constructed from perforated plates (not shown in the drawings).

[0046] The provided magnetic fields are preferably homogeneous. In so far as field strength values are stated, these preferably relate to a value which is measured in the center of the respective coil or a support surface for the patient.

[0047] While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0048] 10 Applicator [0049] 11 Mat [0050] 12 First coil [0051] 13 Second coil [0052] 14 Patient couch [0053] 15 Shielding [0054] 20 Patient