Method and apparatus for magnetic induction therapy

Abstract

An energy emitting apparatus for providing a medical therapy includes one or more energy generators, a logic controller electrically connected to the one or more energy generators, and one or more sensors for detecting electric conduction in a target nerve that are connected to the logic controller. The one or more energy generators produce energy focused on the target nerve upon receiving a signal from the logic controller, and the energy is varied by the logic controller according to an input provided by the one or more sensors. In one embodiment, the energy emitting apparatus is an apparatus for magnetic induction therapy that includes one or more conductive coils disposed in an ergonomic housing that produce a magnetic field focused on the target nerve upon receiving an electric current from the logic controller based on an input provided by the one or more sensors.

1 . An apparatus for magnetic induction therapy comprising:
 one or more conductive coils disposed in a housing;   a logic controller electrically connected to the one or more coils; and   one or more sensors connected to the logic controller for detecting electric conduction in a target nerve,   wherein the one or more conductive coils produce a magnetic field focused on the target nerve upon receiving an electric current from the logic controller, and   wherein the electric current is varied by the logic controller according to an input provided by the one or more sensors.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a flexible wrap, a cradle, or a garment. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coils are overlapping. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coils are disposed in different positions in the housing, the different positions influencing the direction of the magnetic field. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coils are movable within the housing to optimize magnetic flow to the target nerve. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more coils are movable manually by acting on an actuator, or are movable automatically by the logic controller according to the input provided by the one or more sensors. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more coils are movable and lockable in position. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are disposed within the housing. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are independent of the housing. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electric current is varied by the logic controller to control amplitude, frequency, or direction of the magnetic field, or firing sequence of the one or more coils. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured as one or more patches applied to a patient's skin. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coils comprise one or more inductive coils that are external to a patient's body, and wherein comprising one or more inductive coils are implanted into the patient's body and inductively coupled to the external inductive coils. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein power is transmitted from the external coils to the internal coils to recharge or activate an implantable device. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electric current is varied by the logic controller according to an input provided by the one or more sensors and is further varied according to a second input provided by a patient in response to a muscular response of the patient. 
   
   
       15 . A method of magnetic induction therapy comprising the steps of:
 providing one or more conductive coils disposed in a housing, a logic controller electrically connected to the one or more coils, and one or more sensors connected to the logic controller, the one or more sensors being capable of detecting electric conduction in a target nerve;   disposing the housing on a first portion of a patient's body;   disposing the one or more sensors on a second portion of the patient's body; and   causing the one or more conductive coils to produce a magnetic field focused on the target nerve upon receiving an electric current from the logic controller, the electric current being varied by the logic controller according to an input provided by the one or more sensors.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second body portions are the same. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of adjusting the disposition of the one or more coils in the housing, thereby optimizing the focusing of the magnetic field on the target nerve. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of varying the electric current according to a muscular response in the patient. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing the one or more conductive coils comprises providing the one or more conductive as one or more inductive coils external to a patient's body, further comprising the step of providing one or more inductive coils implanted into the patient's body and inductively coupled to the one or more external inductive coils. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the therapy is applied to a nerve selected to from the group consisting of the nerve that affects overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, obesity, depression, hypertension, pain, back pain, restless leg syndrome, Guillain Barre syndrome, quadriplegia, paraplegia, and neuralgia. 
   
   
       21 . An energy emitting apparatus for providing a medical therapy, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more energy generators;   a logic controller electrically connected to the one or more energy generators; and   one or more sensors connected to the logic controller, the one or more sensors being capable of detecting electric conduction in a target nerve,   wherein the one or more energy generators produce energy focused on the target nerve upon receiving a signal from the logic controller, and   wherein the energy is varied by the logic controller according to an input provided by the one or more sensors.   
   
   
       22 . The energy emitting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the energy is a magnetic energy, electrical energy, ultrasound energy, infrared energy, visible energy, or ultraviolet energy. 
   
   
       23 . The energy emitting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more energy generators are movable and lockable in the housing for optimizing the focusing of the energy on the target nerve. 
   
   
       24 . The energy emitting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein at least one energy generator is placed transcutaneously or transcutaneously. 
   
   
       25 . The energy emitting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more energy generators comprise an electrical pulse controller.