Coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment

Abstract

A core 5 is composed of a J-shaped front core portion 1, a J-shaped rear core portion 2, a U-shaped left core portion 3, and a U-shaped right core portion 4. These core portions 1 to 4 have one-side end portions which are substantially directed in one and the same direction and which are fixed to one another to thereby form a center portion 6. A coil 7 is wound on the center portion 6. The core 5 is attached to a core support member attached closely to a patient. In use, the coil apparatus is made close or near to the patient. When the coil 7 is supplied with a pulse current, pulse-like magnetic flux is generated in the purdendal nerve and pelvic floor muscle group of the patient so that an eddy current is induced. The patient in the region where magnetic flux is generated and an eddy current is generated, is stimulated sufficiently, so that urinary incontinence treatment is performed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment, said coil apparatus comprising: 
 a core with at least four core elements, said each element being U-or J-shaped, said core elements having one side end portions and the other side end portions opposite to said one side end portions respectively, said one side end portions being directed substantially in one and the same direction, said one side end portions being fixed to one another at a portion which is defined as a center portion of said core, said the other side end portions being extended in each direction, respectively from said center portion where said one side end portions are fixed to one another;    a coil wound on said core; and    a core support member to which said core is attached, said core support member being able to be disposed close or near to a patient.    
     
     
         2 . A coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment comprising: 
 a core integrally formed by a mold, said core having an appearance similar to another core which is in a state in which said other core having at least four core elements, said each element being U- or J-shaped, said core elements having one side end portions and the other side end portions opposite to said one side end portions respectively, said one side end portions being directed substantially in one and the same direction, said one-side end portions being fixed to one another at a portion which is defined as a center portion of said core, said the other side end portions being extended in each direction respectively from said center portion where said one side end portions are fixed to one another;    a coil wound on said core; and    a core support member to which said core is attached, said core support member being able to be disposed close or near to a patient.    
     
     
         3 . A coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment comprising: 
 a core;    a core support member to which said core is attached;    wherein magnetic flux generated from said core applied for a patient to at least forward to rear direction of the pelvic floor muscle group and right to left in horizontal direction where the second to fourth sacral nerves innervated in said right to left direction or the purdendal nerve branched from said second to fourth sacral nerves.    
     
     
         4 . A coil apparatus for urinary incontinence treatment comprising: 
 a core including a bowl-shaped or bottomed-tube-shaped base portion and a protrudent portion protruded from an inner center of said base portion;    a coil wound on said protrudent portion of said core; and    a core support member to which said core is attached, said core support member being close or near to a patient.