LOCAL FIELDS THERAPY APPARATUS

DESCRIPTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a device for treating diseases of various type by means of local magnetic and electric fields that are applied within biological structures.

Background of the invention

Devices are known for curing diseases of various type, in particular, diseases that are characterised by inflammatory and/or painful states. For example, with reference only to the most recent publications, in US7294101 a portable device is described for curing various types of headache and, in particular, for curing trigeminal inflammatory states. Such device can be used by the patient without the assistance of a physician, and it is adapted to produce local magnetic fields that periodically change according to a limited set of wave functions; this fact, as well as the particular shape of the device, that is optimized to obtain a response at the level of the trigeminal, makes the device useful for curing only a narrow group of diseases.

In US 2004/0176805 a portable device is disclosed, which is adapted to cure a wider group of pathologies; however the limited intensity of the magnetic fields that can be produced requires to firmly attach the device to the patient's skin, which causes discomfort.

Furthermore, none of the well-known medical devices that are needed at a treatment centre, has a specific therapeutic software that is well suited for patients who require a treatment that stimulates their hormonal activity or an immune response.

Many documents are also known that relate to magnetotherapy systems, such as US-A-4,723,536, WO2008/127011A, EP-A-1839702, WO96/32158,

EP-A-0501048. However, none of the above documents discloses an apparatus that is suitable for interact with the cell membrane receptors in such a way that they can effectively and durably work against inflammatory and/or painful states.

Summary of the invention It is therefore a feature of the invention to provide a device that can effectively and durably treat painful diseases by means of magnetic fields, and to stimulate hormonal activity and/or immune response in a patient.

It is a particular feature of the invention to provide such a device that can interact with a patient's cells membrane receptors. It is, furthermore, a feature of the invention to provide such a device, which assists a correct relative positioning of the source of magnetic field and of the electrostatic field on a patient's body portion.

It is a particular feature of the invention to provide such a device that allows to apply bilaterally a magnetic field to a body portion of a patient who is sitting or is in a prone or in a supine posture, or in any other lying position.

These and other objects are achieved by a device for treating many kinds of diseases, such as inflammatory and/or painful states, of a patient's body portion, such device comprising: an induction winding circuit that is adapted to allow an electric current to flow inside, the electric current suitable for generating a magnetic field in a workspace; a current adjusting means such that the magnetic field is an adjustable magnetic field; a means for bringing the induction circuit to a short distance from the patient's body portion such that the workspace is substantially within the body region, the main feature of the device is that the circuit is suitable for generating a pulse local magnetic field, said magnetic field having a magnetic flow density set between 50 and 500 Gauss, and that the current adjusting means is adapted to adjust the current in such a way that in the workspace the local magnetic field changes according to a combination of a first periodic signal that has a first frequency and of a second periodic signal that has a second frequency that is different from the first frequency. In particular, said local fields are London local magnetic fields. This way, due to the use of local fields, for example London magnetic fields, it is possible to polarise certain molecules of a biological substrate, which are irradiated by such fields, that are not naturally of polar type. Advantageously, the reactance of the circuit is negligible with respect to the circuit resistance. In particular, the reactance is at least two orders of magnitude smaller than the resistance. In other words, the circuit is characterized by a quality factor value, or a Q-factor value, that is high enough to allow a substantial resonance of the circuit, in which the voltage that is applied to the circuit and the current that circulates within the circuit are substantially in phase. In such conditions, it is possible to generate a local magnetic field that has a pulse waveform that is substantially equal to the waveform of the voltage signal that is applied to the circuit, without a substantial deformation and attenuation owing to phase delay, which would occur in the case of circuits that have a poor quality or Q-factor. The adoption of a high quality factor circuit allows generating pulse local magnetic fields that are characterized by a very quick magnetic flow density variation, that, along with the magnetic flow density values of the above cited field, and therefore with a relatively low power, are suitable for interacting with the cells of the body region that is treated, and modifying the conformation of the membrane receptors. In the prior art, with reactance values that are even slightly higher than the above cited ones, with respect to the circuit resistance, magnetic fields would be needed in which the magnetic flow density is as strong as 1 Tesla (10000 Gauss) to obtain a comparable interaction with the cells. In particular, this circuit has a substantially zero reactance. This condition can be achieved by means of circuit components that are well known to electrical technicians, or by means of digital integrated components.

Advantageously, the first periodic signal and/or the second periodic signal have/has a square waveform. In a first preferred exemplary embodiment, the induction circuit comprises coils that are wound about a toroidal surface.

Preferably, the magnetic flow density in the workspace is set between 60 and 200 Gauss. Preferably, the magnetic flow density in the workspace is set between 120 and 150 Gauss. The sensitivity of the membrane receptors, i.e. the magnetic flow density values above which such membrane receptors change their own conformation, is a value which depends on the patient's conditions, however with fields whose magnetic flow density is greater than 120 Gauss, a therapeutic effect is obtained with most patients.

In particular, the combination between the first periodic signal and the second periodic signal produces a product signal that has at each instant a value that is obtained by multiplying respective values of the first periodic signal and of the second periodic signal at the same time: such an overlapping of magnetic fields that have different frequencies is useful, in particular, for stimulating hormonal activity.

In particular, the combination between the first signal and the second signal produces an amplitude-modulated signal, wherein the first signal is a carrier signal and the second signal is a modulation signal.

In particular, the combination between the first signal and the second signal produces a product signal that has: a first periodic signal value at each instant of a first time interval, and a second periodic signal value at each instant of a second time interval, the second time interval following the first time interval.

Preferably, the first frequency is set between 5 Hz and 30 Hz and the second frequency is set between 0,5 Hz and 3,5 Hz.

In particular, the first frequency is set between 7 Hz and 20 Hz. In particular, the second frequency is set between 2 Hz and 3 Hz. Preferably, the first frequency is set between 40 Hz and 120 Hz and the second frequency is set between 4 Hz and 8 Hz.

In particular, the second frequency is set between 5 and 7 Hz. The combinations in which the first frequency and the second frequency are respectively lower than 20 and 5 Hz have turned out to be effective for treating inflammatory and painful states in general; with higher frequencies, for example if the first frequency is higher than 50 Hz, up to values of about 120 Hz, and if the second frequency is about 7 Hz, benefices are obtained by stimulating the immune system and the hormonal system. Advantageously, the device comprises a means for selecting a succession of treatment cycles such that, in two consecutive cycles, the first frequency of the previous cycle is different from the first frequency of the next cycle and/or the second frequency of the previous cycle is different from the second frequency of the n cycle.

Advantageously, the device comprises a means for summing a further substantially constant local magnetic field to the variable local magnetic field in a treatment cycle or in a succession of treatment cycles. This turned out to be effective, in particular, for stimulating the immune system. In particular, the means for summing a further local magnetic field comprises a further induction circuit.

In particular, the substantially constant local magnetic field has substantially the same direction of the adjustable local magnetic field in the workspace. Preferably, the induction circuit is limited by a substantially plane surface, and the means for bringing the induction circuit to a short distance from the region of the patient's body are suitable for orienting the substantially plane surface in such a way that the substantially plane surface is substantially parallel to a body surface of a proximal portion of the treated region. Advantageously, the means for bringing the circuit to a short distance from the patient's body portion and suitable for orienting the substantially plane surface comprises a connection means that is rotatably arranged about an axis, wherein the axis lies in a plane that contains the plane surface, and, in particular, the axis is external to the circuit. This assists the patient to take one's seat and to easily arrange in the workspace the body region that must be treated.

Said or each induction circuit can be enclosed in a capsule that has a wall that in use faces the treated body region, the wall comprising a non-ferromagnetic material. In particular, the non-ferromagnetic material is an austenitic stainless steel.

Said capsule may have a further wall that is distinct from the facing wall, this further wall comprising a high magnetic permeability material. In particular, the high magnetic permeability material is selected from the group comprised of: mild steel, nickel, cobalt.

The use of the high magnetic permeability material allows to reduce the magnetic field losses and to lower the circuit reluctance; other high permeability materials are oriented crystals FeSi blades, ARMCO ^® iron, iron- nickel alloys, ferrite in general, for example Ferroxcube ^® , and the like, preferably in the form of blades that are oriented in order to reduce the Foucault currents and the subsequent superheating due to variable currents, and in order to limit the pulsation attenuation, which is indispensable to obtain the desired effects.

In another advantageous exemplary embodiment, the induction circuit is a first induction circuit, and the apparatus comprises at least one second induction circuit, the first induction circuit and the second induction circuit allowing respective currents to flow within them, the respective currents having substantially a same value at each instant, the at least two circuits defining a same workspace that is adapted to house a patient. A means is then provided for bringing at least one of the two induction circuits to a short distance from the region of the patient's body that has to be subjected to the therapy, and assisting the patient to sit on a chair or on a couch. In this case, the means for modulating the current is preferably resident in a microprocessor that is controlled by a local or remote console.

In particular, the two induction circuits comprise two Helmholtz coils.

Preferably, the first induction circuit and the second induction circuit are enclosed in respective capsules. The workspace may be suitable to house a chair or a couch to be used by the patient.

Preferably, the first induction circuit and the second induction circuit , comprise a means for creating an electric field in the workspace. The application of this electric field in the body region to be treated increases the magnetic fields effectiveness. In other words, such an apparatus is adapted to apply sequences of local magnetic and electric fields (SQME).

In particular, the electric field is a uniform electric field.

In an advantageous exemplary embodiment, the capsule is substantially cylindrical and has a size such that it can be supported by the surface next to the body region. This way, a portable apparatus is provided that is well suited for domestic treatment sessions, or in any case for treatment sessions without the assistance of a physician. In the same exemplary embodiment, the current adjusting means is preferably integral to the capsule, for example it is enclosed in it, and a means is furthermore provided integral to the capsule for selecting the treatment cycle among a plurality of treatment cycles that are available as options in an interface user.

The objects of the present invention are also achieved by a kit comprising: - a device according to the first exemplary embodiment; a reflector of said magnetic field comprising: a first plate that is made of a non-ferromagnetic material; a second plate that is made of a high magnetic permeability material, wherein said second plate is integrally overlapped by said first plate, wherein said device and said reflector are adapted to receive said body region of said patient in a space between said device and said reflector.

The first plate, which is made of a non-ferromagnetic material, allows concentrating in the body region the force lines of the local magnetic field that is generated by the coil current, and the second plate, which is made of a high magnetic permeability material, assists this concentration of force lines.

Preferably, the second plate extends beyond the edge of the first plate. In particular, the non-ferromagnetic material is an austenitic stainless steel. In particular, the high magnetic permeability material is selected from the group comprised of: mild steel, nickel, cobalt.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be made clearer with the following description of some exemplary embodiments, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- Figures 1 and 2 show two embodiments of the device according to the invention that are well suited for use in a treatment centre, and are adapted to treat extended regions of the body of a patient sitting or lying on a couch or on an armchair;

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatical simplified functional view of the device in a version for a treatment centre that completes the armchair of figure 3;

Figure 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the version for a treatment centre of the device according to the invention, in alternative to the one that is shown in figures 1 to 3;

- Figure 5 shows a portable version of the device according to the invention;

- Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of a kit comprising a portable device according to the invention, and a reflector, which is arranged proximate to a body region to be treated;

- Figures 7 to 10" show three different combinations of periodic signals that expresses the trend of the local magnetic field applied by the device according to the invention in a workspace, in particular, figures 10' and 10" show in detail signals that are applied in two distinct time intervals of a treatment cycle that is defined by the combination of such signals;

- Figure 11 represents a succession of treatment cycles which can be provided by the device according to the invention, in an exemplary embodiment; - Figures 11' and 11" show couples of signals that are combined to give two different treatment cycles that belong to a succession of treatment cycles that can be created by means of the device according to the invention;

- Figures 12 and 12' show a treatment which can be carry out by the device according to the invention, in which a constant local magnetic field is used;

- Figures 13 and 14 show a treatment that can be obtained by the device according to the invention, in which a constant intensity electric field is used;

Figure 15 is a chart that diagrammatically shows the values of the frequencies of the local magnetic fields which can be provided by the device according to the invention, and which have different therapeutic effects. Description of preferred exemplary embodiments

With reference to figures 1 to 6, a device is described for curing many kinds of diseases, which are associated, for example, to inflammatory and/or painful states, in particular, by promoting immune response or hormonal response in a patient. A first exemplary embodiment, which is shown in figures 1-3, relates to a device that is adapted to perform treatment sessions in a treatment centre, and is adapted to create an adjustable magnetic field in a workspace 1 between two capsules 11 and 12, whose shape is for example a ring shape. Each capsule 11 ,12 extends along a substantially plane surface and encloses at least one induction circuit, not shown, that preferably comprises a coil whose windings are wound about a toroidal body. The device is provided with a means for bringing the induction circuit to a short distance from a patient's body portion that has to be treated, in particular, the lower ring capsule 11 can vertically translate according to a predetermined stroke to adjust its position depending on whether the patient is laying on a couch, not shown, or is sitting on an armchair 13 during the treatment; accordingly, a connection means is provided rotatably arranged about an axis 6 that lies in a plane 7 of the plane face according to which upper capsule 12 extends; in particular, axis 6 is external to capsule ring 12, i.e. it is external to the induction circuit; this way, upper capsule 12, besides translating, can also rotate from a working position shown by an unbroken line, up to a vertical open position 15, shown in dotted line, or in any case to an open position to assist the patient to take its place, in this case to sit down on armchair 13 or, for instance, on a couch, not shown. The motion of capsule rings 11 ,12 is made possible, preferably, by pneumatic actuators, not shown, that are enclosed in column 14.

In figure 2 a device 17 is shown which is similar to device 10, and which comprises, furthermore, two armatures 19 that are integral to supports 14 and 18, and are adapted to create an electric field in workspace 1. The pneumatic signals for operating the actuators of devices 10 and 17, as well as the electric signals that flow along the coils of the induction circuits, and that can be the signals for providing a voltage to armatures 19, come from an electro-pneumatic panel 3 (figure 3), through a connection means 2. The various steps of a treatment session are controlled by a program that is resident in a microprocessor of a computer 4, the latter having an interface through which a technician can select a treatment that is customized for the patient, preferably among a group 5 of options that is resident in a mass memory of computer 4.

In figure 4 an exemplary embodiment 40 is shown of the device according to the invention, in which two capsules 33 and 34 are provided that are similar to capsules 11 and 12 of device 10 of figure 1 , and are arranged in use parallel an in a vertical position, instead of a horizontal position. In particular, capsule 33 is fixed and integral to a first support 48, whereas capsule 34 is rotatable about a support 44 from a working position shown in figure by an continuous line, up to an open position 49 shown by a dotted line, to assist a patient to sit down on an armchair 13, or, for example, on a couch, not shown. In a further exemplary embodiment, not shown, a device similar to device 40 can comprise two armatures that are similar to armatures 19 of figure 2, and are preferably arranged parallel and, in particular, according to a direction that is orthogonal to the direction of capsules 33 and 34 in use, in order to create a predetermined electric field in workspace 1.

In figures 5 and 6 a portable device 20 is shown that comprises a substantially cylindrical capsule which is defined by:

- a plate 25, for example, of mild steel for reducing the loss and the reluctance of the magnetic fields;

- a casing 24, which preferably comprises:

- a further plate 26 that has the same contour of plate 25 and comprises a permanent magnet, for example a Ferrite magnet, or a magnet made of Sr and Ba, or of AI-Ni-Co-Fe(Alnico), or of Sm Co5 and Sm2 Co17 or of Nd-Fe-B, and said magnet can be coupled with plate 25 preferably by a releasable connection means, not shown; a shell 27 that is transparent with respect to magnetic fields, made for example by a drawing step starting from an austenitic stainless steel plate.

Handle 22 serves for bringing the device at a short distance from a body region 39 of a patient that has to be subject to treatment, in particular, it serves for bringing the flat portion of shell 27 into contact with a body surface proximate to region 39, which has to be treated.

Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of device 20, in particular, an induction circuit 6 is shown, which preferably consists of a solenoid whose coils 29, partially shown, are wound according to a substantially toroidal shape 6. The portable device includes a program means, not shown, for selecting a suitable treatment among a group of options that are resident in a mass memory which is also included in device 20. In figure 6 a kit is shown that comprises, in addition to device 20, a reflector 55 that is arranged opposite to device 20 with respect to region 39 of the body of a patient who has to be treated; in particular, reflector 55 comprises a first plate 41 that is made of austenitic stainless steel or of another non-ferromagnetic material; in this exemplary embodiment, first plate 41 is overlapped to a second plate 42, which is arranged opposite to region 39 with respect to plate 41 ; second plate 42 is made of mild steel or of another high magnetic permeability material, and has a protruding element 43, preferably 10 mm long, that protrudes from first plate 41. Due to first plate 41 , and to the shape of second plate 42, the force lines of the local magnetic field are concentrated within region 39.

In particular, said fields are London magnetic fields, which can be provided as described in the literature. This way, due to the use of local fields, for example of London magnetic fields, it is possible to polarise molecules of a biological substrate that that are not naturally polar.

The induction circuits and the program means of devices 10, 17, 20, are adapted to create in workspace 1 magnetic fields that vary according to waveforms that are obtained by a combination of periodic signals, in particular, of two pulse periodic signals that have respective frequencies fi and f ₂ ; preferably, at least one of the periodic signals has a square waveform. Figures 7 to 10 refer to four possible way of combining two signals, in particular, figures 7 and 10 show combinations of magnetic fields of a magnetic flow density B, wherein at least one of the signals has a square waveform. Figure 7 shows, by a thicker line, a pulse signal 31 which is obtained, instant by instant, as the product of a first sinusoidal signal 32 whose frequency is, in particular, 3 Hz and whose maximum value is 130 Gauss, and of a second signal, not shown, that has square waveform, and whose frequency is 10 Hz and whose values are set between 0 and +1. Figure 8 shows a pulse signal 36 which is obtained by modulating a pulse carrier signal 37 whose frequency is, in particular, 10 Hz with a modulation sinusoidal signal 38 whose frequency is 3 Hz; for simplicity only three cycles of signal 36 are shown. The magnetic field achieves in this case a value of 130 Gauss. This treatment cycle, having a trend that is symmetrical with respect to the abscissa axis, is kept possible by device 10 or 17 or 20 shown in figures 1 to 4; in case of device 20 of figure 6, associated with plates 41/42, it is possible to provide a treatment cycle as shown in figure 9, where a signal 46, which is obtained by modulating a carrier signal 47 whose frequency is 10 Hz with a modulation signal 48 whose frequency is 3 Hz, is asymmetrical with respect to the abscissa axis.

Another type of signal 51 , shown in figure 10, has in a first time interval 52, for example for ten minutes, a value that is equal to the value of a first signal 54, whose frequency is, in particular, 7 Hz, and has in a second time interval 53, for example 5 minutes, a value that is equal to the value of a second signal 56, whose frequency is, in particular 3 Hz. Signals 54 and 56 are shown more in detail, respectively, in figures 10' and 10", referring for a 1 sec time period, that are extracted from time intervals 52 and 53, respectively.

In the examples of figures 7 to 10, two frequencies fi and f ₂ are respectively 7 Hz or 10 Hz and 3 Hz, according to a feature that is adapted to a specific analgesic treatment. In other examples, not represented, frequencies fι and ^ may be respectively:

7 Hz and 0,6 Hz, which is useful for curing, furthermore, osseous diseases; - 20 Hz and 3 Hz, which is useful for stimulating the immune system and as an analgesic treatment; - 50 Hz and 7 Hz, which is useful for stimulating the immune system.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the program means of the device allows to make a choice among a group of treatment cycles sequences that are resident in a mass memory. In a simple case, as shown in figure 11 , a succession 61 comprises two treatment cycles 65 and 68, which are also shown in the diagrams of figure 11' and figure 11", respectively. More in detail, succession 61 provides repeating a first treatment cycle 65 and a second treatment cycle 68 that are applied during consecutive time intervals 62 and 63, which respectively last ten and five minutes, for instance. During the two time intervals, corresponding pulse local magnetic fields are applied in workspace 1 , whose magnetic flow density is variable according to square waveforms, in particular: - in first time interval 62, the first field and the second field have a magnetic flow density that is variable according to two different square waveforms 64 and 66, which have maximum values that are equal to 130 Gauss and 80 Gauss, and frequencies equal to 10 Hz and 3 Hz, respectively (figure 11'); - in second time interval 63, the first field and the second field have a magnetic flow density that is variable according to two different square waveforms 69 and 66', which have maximum values equal to 60 Gauss and 80 Gauss, and frequencies equal to 7 Hz and 3 Hz, respectively (figure 11"), such maximum values obtained in the patient's body portion that is subject to treatment.

A treatment session provides repetitions of succession 61 of treatment cycles 62 and 63 up to an overall duration that is typically set between 45' and 60'. In alternative, one or both the treatment cycles can be combinations of signals of the type shown in figures 7, 8 or 10. The treatment cycles of such sequences may be carried out, for example, by means of one of devices 10, 17, and 40 of figures 1 to 4, wherein each capsule 11 , 12, 33, 34 houses at least two coils to generate mutually overlapping local magnetic fields.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the device according to the invention has a means for summing a constant local magnetic field 79 to the local magnetic field which is variable according to a combination of signals of different frequency, for example a combination of signals as in figure 7, 8 or 10, obtaining, in particular, a treatment cycle 71 as the one shown in figure 12. In particular, the variable local magnetic field is missing in a first time interval 72, and is present in a second time interval 73, according to a combination of signals 74 and 76 (figure 12') that have respective frequencies, for example 7 Hz and 3 Hz, and respective magnetic maximum flow density values, for example 60 and 80 Gauss; this combination of signals overlaps, in time interval 73, a field shown by signal 79, in which the magnetic field has a constant magnetic flow density, equal for example to 130 Gauss and, preferably, a direction substantially equal to the direction of the magnetic induction of the adjustable field.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the device comprises furthermore a means for creating an electric field, in particular, a constant electric field. In figure 13 a treatment is shown that provides the application of one of the above described treatment cycles, for example of treatment cycle 51 of figure 10, preceded by the application of an electric field 95 whose intensity is constant and equal, for example, to 2000 V/m. Such a treatment can be obtained, in particular, by means of device 17 of figure 2. According to an exemplary embodiment of the treatment, which is shown in figure 14, a constant electric field 99, whose intensity is still equal, for example, to 2000 V/m, is applied before each treatment cycle 51 , during a time interval 84 that is preferably equal to one fourth of the time during which treatment cycle 51 is applied.

In further exemplary embodiments, not represented, magnetic treatment cycle 51 of figures 13 and 14 is replaced by one of the treatment cycles of the type that is shown in figures 7, 8 or 10.

The frequencies of the treatment cycles like that shown in figures 7 to 14 are selected responsive to the diseases to treat, taking into account the patient's particular conditions. The same occurs for the magnetic maximum flow density value of the adjustable local magnetic field, and for the magnetic maximum flow density value of the constant magnetic and electric fields that may be included in the treatment cycle. In a first approximation, and unless particular patient's conditions occur, a general rule is indicated in the diagram of figure 15, which shows a first lower frequencies field 81 , in which a treatment obtained by means of the devices of figures 1 to 6 is well suited for curing inflammatory states and painful diseases in general, and a higher frequency field 82, in particular, from 50 Hz up to values of about 120 Hz, which can be obtained, in particular, by means of the devices of figures 1 to 4, and in which it is possible to cause particular immune responses and hormonal system stimulation effects. In an intermediate field 83 it is possible to obtain mixed or intermediate effects between the two above-cited types, which are obtained in the conditions defined by fields 81 and 82 of the diagram.

With the sole scope of providing a few general examples of what is synthetically shown in figure 15, some values are given of first frequency fi and of second frequency f ₂ , along with the respective typical therapeutic effects. For a frequency f| less than about 7÷10 Hz, and values of f ₂ of about 0,5÷4 Hz, treatment cycles can be obtained that are suitable for curing local pains, in particular, bone pains; higher values of both frequencies, in particular, a frequency fy larger than 50 Hz and up to 100÷120 Hz, and a frequency f ₂ of about 5÷10 Hz are well suited for stimulating the immune system and the hormonal system. In an intermediate field of values, analgesic effects are possible in a broad sense.

Of course, the treatment effectiveness depends upon specific patient's conditions parameters, which cannot be left out of consideration to decide about the treatment conditions. The effectiveness depends upon the cells membrane receptors sensitivity; if fields are used whose magnetic flow density is larger than 120 Gauss, therapeutic effects are obtained with most of the patients.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, such that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such embodiments without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiments. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.