High-power pulsed electromagnetic field applicator systems

Abstract

Described herein are high-power pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) applicator apparatuses. These apparatuses are configured to drive multiple applicators to concurrently deliver high-power PEMF signals to tissue. The apparatuses may be further configured to wirelessly communicate with local computing device and a remote server for patient monitoring, prescription and/or device servicing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high-power pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) applicator system, the system comprising:
 a computing device comprising cellular communications circuitry configured to:
 receive software and firmware updates for the PEMF applicator system; and 
 transmit patient compliance data to a remote server; 
   a base housing comprising:
 a controller configured to generate a high-power pulsed signal, the controller comprising wireless circuitry configured to:
 receive the software and firmware updates from the computing device; and 
 transmit patient usage data to the computing device; and 
 
   two or more applicators coupled to the base housing, each applicator comprising:
 a coil circuit configured to emit a high-power PEMF signal configured to have a power of greater than 40 watts, 
   wherein the patient usage data includes data associated with patient compliance with respect to a prescribed treatment plan.   
     
     
         2 . The high-power PEMF applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. 
     
     
         3 . The high-power PEMF applicator system of  claim 2 , wherein the computing device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         4 . The high-power PEMF applicator system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cloud computing network configured to receive the patient compliance data. 
     
     
         5 . The high-power PEMF applicator system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a diagnostic unit configured to run one or more diagnostic tests and generate diagnostic test data and an error code if one or more of the diagnostic tests is failed, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to transmit the diagnostic test data and the error code to the computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a display with a graphical user interface for controlling the base housing and the two or more applicators. 
     
     
         7 . A high-power pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) applicator system, the system comprising:
 a computing device comprising cellular communications circuitry configured to receive software and firmware updates for the PEMF applicator system;   a remote server configured to receive patient compliance data from the cellular communications circuitry; and   a base housing comprising:
 a controller configured to generate a high-power pulsed signal, the controller comprising wireless circuitry configured to:
 receive the software and firmware updates from the computing device; and 
 transmit patient usage data to the computing device; and 
 
 two or more applicators coupled to the base housing, each applicator comprising:
 a coil circuit configured to emit a high-power PEMF signal configured to have a power of greater than 40 watts, 
 
 wherein the patient usage data includes data associated with patient compliance with respect to a prescribed treatment plan. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling operation of a high-power pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) system, the method comprising:
 emitting a high-power PEMF signal through an applicator of the PEMF system;   receiving a feedback signal in a feedback sensor associated with the high-power PEMF signal emitted by the applicator, wherein the feedback signal is based on a detected field strength of the emitted high-power PEMF signal;   transmitting a therapy field feedback signal derived from or including the feedback signal to a local computing device; and   determining that the therapy field feedback signal exceeds a predetermined set of performance parameters.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transmitting, from the local computing device, an alert to a user operating the high-power PEMF applicator system in response to determining that the therapy field feedback signal exceeds the predetermined set of performance parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein emitting the high-power PEMF signal comprises emitting the PEMF signal through a coil circuit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein emitting the high-power PEMF signal comprises emitting a high-power PEMF signal having a power of greater than 40 watts. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising adjusting the emitted high-power PEMF signal based on the therapy field feedback signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transmitting, from a remote server to the local computing device, a prescription for emitting high-power PEMF signals through an applicator of the PEMF system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the prescription describes a number of PEMF treatments, a number of daily PEMF treatments, a number of days for daily PEMF treatments, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , transmitting use information indicating when the PEMF system is not being operated within desired parameters. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein emitting the high-power PEMF signal comprises generating, with a power amplifier, a pulsed drive signal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein emitting the high-power PEMF signal comprises generating, with a controller, a high-power pulsed signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving the feedback signal comprises receiving a capacitance signal, an inductance signal, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein transmitting the therapy field feedback signal comprises confirming a transmission path, wherein transmitting the therapy field feedback signal is based on the confirmation of the transmission path. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8 , further transmitting the therapy field feedback signal comprises attempting to transmit the therapy field feedback signal multiple times based at least in part on a confirmation of a transmission path.