RF Diathermy and Faradic Muscle Stimulation Treatment

Abstract

An RF diathermy coil assembly includes a patient-conforming garment defining a passage for receiving a body part therein and a primary coil including a number of windings disposed around the passage. The primary coil is connectable to a power source lead and is incorporated into the patient-conforming garment. The primary coil is responsive to RF power delivered via the power source lead for establishing an RF field. A secondary coil is provided that includes a number of windings disposed around the passage. The secondary coil is disposed proximate the primary coil and is incorporated into the patient-conforming garment. A tuner is coupled to the secondary coil for tuning the RF field to a resonant frequency of the body part disposed within the passage.

1 . An RF diathermy coil assembly, comprising:
 a patient-conforming garment defining a passage for receiving a body part therein;   a primary coil including a plurality of windings disposed around the passage, the primary coil being connectable to a power source lead and being incorporated into the patient-conforming garment, the primary coil responsive to RF power delivered via the power source lead for establishing an RF field;   a secondary coil including a plurality of windings disposed around the passage, the secondary coil being disposed proximate the primary coil and being incorporated into the patient-conforming garment; and   a tuner coupled to the secondary coil for tuning the RF field to a resonant frequency of the body part disposed within the passage.   
     
     
         2 . The RF diathermy coil assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further including a woven RF shield connected to the garment, wherein the shield is disposed toward the exterior of the garment relative to the majority of the length of the RF diathermy coil. 
     
     
         3 . The RF diathermy coil assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the garment includes a polymer foam. 
     
     
         4 . The RF diathermy coil assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further including a balun connected to the primary coil. 
     
     
         5 . The RF diathermy coil assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the tuner includes a tuning capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The RF diathermy coil assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the secondary coil includes more windings than the primary coil. 
     
     
         7 . The RF diathermy coil assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the patient-conforming garment is elastically deformable to conform to a body part insertable in the passage. 
     
     
         8 . The RF diathermy coil assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the garment includes fabric layers disposed around the passage; and   the primary coil and the secondary coil are sandwiched between the fabric layers.