Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the treatment of chronic wounds using electromagnetic energy. The apparatus includes a generator and at least one applicator. The generator can produce electromagnetic energy and the applicator can apply the electromagnetic energy produced by the generator. A detector is disposed on the applicator that can measure the field strength of the electromagnetic energy applied.

1 . A non-thermal electromagnetic energy wound treatment method comprising:
 placing a self-supporting applicator on or adjacent to a target wound site of an individual, wherein said applicator is placed externally with respect to the body of said individual, and wherein said applicator is configured to have a fixed capacitance while delivering an RF energy treatment dosage into a target wound site;   generating a pulsed RF signal output in a generating unit separate from the applicator;   delivering said signal output from said generating unit to said applicator via a cable, wherein said cable connects the generating unit and the applicator; and   radiating a pulsed RF electromagnetic field treatment dosage from said applicator into said target wound site, to promote wound treatment,
 wherein radiating the pulsed RF electromagnetic field treatment dosage occurs without manually tuning the capacitance of the applicator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF treatment dosage comprises delivering a dose of less than about 300 mw/cm 2  average RF power. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF treatment dosage comprises delivering a dose of less than about 200 mw/cm 2  average RF power. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF treatment dosage comprises delivering a dose of less than about 100 mw/cm 2  average RF power. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF treatment dosage comprises delivering a dose of less than about 2 mw/cm 2  average RF power. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF treatment dosage comprises delivering a dose having a pulse envelope with a pulse duration of between about 16 to about 60 microseconds and a repetition rate of between about 600 to about 1,500 pulses per second. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF treatment dosage comprises delivering a dose having a pulse envelope with a pulse duration of about 32 microseconds and a repetition rate of about 1,000 pulses per second. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an input power to generate the pulsed RF signal output, wherein the input power is about 3 watts or less. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the input power comprises providing an input power of less than about 1 watt. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing an input power comprises providing power from a battery. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF energy treatment dosage into said target wound site does not require manual adjustment of power, pulse rate duration, pulse width duration, capacitance, or treatment time by a treatment provider. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the signal comprises delivering a signal having a power, pulse rate duration, and pulse width duration that are not manually adjustable during treatment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF energy treatment dosage into said target wound site produces a constant and repeatable treatment dosage. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating a pulsed RF energy treatment dosage into said target wound site produces a constant and replicable treatment dosage without manual adjustment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the applicator on the target wound site comprises placing an applicator having a fixed capacitance on the target wound site. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the pulsed RF energy treatment dosage radiated. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein monitoring the pulsed RF energy treatment dosage radiated comprises automatically monitoring the pulsed RF energy treatment dosage radiated, using a field strength sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein monitoring the pulsed RF energy treatment dosage radiated comprises automatically monitoring the pulsed RF energy treatment dosage radiated, using multiple sensing or detecting circuits. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising supplying a feedback signal to modify the pulsed high frequency signal output based on output from the field strength sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein radiating the pulsed RF electromagnetic field treatment dosage occurs without manually tuning the capacitance of the applicator. the pulse rate, the pulse width, the RF power, and the treatment time during radiating the pulsed RF electromagnetic field treatment dosage. 
     
     
         21 . A non-thermal electromagnetic energy wound treatment method comprising:
 placing a self-supporting applicator on or adjacent to a target wound site of an individual, wherein the applicator is placed externally with respect to the body of the individual, and wherein said applicator is configured to have a fixed capacitance while delivering an RF energy treatment dosage into a target wound site;   generating a pulsed RF signal output in a generating unit separate from the applicator;   delivering the signal output from the generating unit to the applicator via a cable, wherein the cable connects the generating unit and the applicator;   radiating a pulsed RF electromagnetic field treatment dosage from the applicator into the target wound site, to promote wound treatment, wherein radiating the pulsed RF electromagnetic field treatment dosage occurs without manually tuning the capacitance of the applicator;   monitoring the pulsed RF energy treatment dosage radiated using a field strength sensor; and   modifying the pulsed high frequency signal output based on an output from the field strength sensor.   
     
     
         22 . A non-thermal electromagnetic energy wound treatment method comprising:
 placing a self-supporting applicator on or adjacent to a target wound site of an individual, wherein said applicator is placed externally with respect to the body of said individual, wherein said applicator is configured to have a fixed capacitance while delivering an RF energy treatment dosage into a target wound site;   generating a pulsed RF signal output in a generating unit separate from the applicator;   delivering the signal output from the generating unit to the applicator via a cable, wherein the cable connects the generating unit and the applicator;   radiating a pulsed RF electromagnetic field treatment dosage from the applicator into the target wound site, to promote wound treatment, wherein radiating the pulsed RF electromagnetic field treatment dosage occurs without manually tuning the capacitance of the applicator; and   modifying the pulsed RF signal output based on the pulsed RF electromagnetic treatment dosage measured at the applicator.