TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND ART.

The present invention relates to a medical device for magnetotherapy.

As is known, magnetotherapy is used in various medical fields, principally in physiotherapy. It is a treatment applied following prescription by specialists in orthopaedics, physiatry or geriatrics and consisting in suitable irradiation of a part of the human body with a magnetic field that is generally localized. Magnetotherapy has numerous fields of application and application modes, however it functions principally in the regularization of the electrochemical equilibrium of the cell and in restoring correct permeability of cell membrane. For that purpose, the areas affected by muscular, joint, bone and tissue pathologies are subjected to targeted irradiation treatments.

On the basis of the frequency of the electromagnetic field, it is possible to distinguish between high and low frequency magnetotherapy. High frequency magnetotherapy is based on the emission of waves with a carrier frequency greater than 15 MHz (preferably comprised between 20 MHz and 30 MHz) and a modulation frequency greater than 100 Hz (preferably comprised between 100 Hz and 5000 Hz) . Low frequency magnetotherapy consists instead in generating electromagnetic fields with a frequency lower than 100 Hz.

Apparatus for performing high and low frequency magnetotherapy have already been marketed for several years now. Yet, the principle disadvantage of the known solutions lies in the unwieldiness of the apparatus, owing to the use of as many cables as there are applicators. In fact, the use of a plurality of applicators is foreseen, connected to the same power unit for the apparatus for magnetotherapy, in such a manner that different patients can have access to the same therapy at the same time.

In this context, the technical task underlying this invention is to propose a medical device for magnetotherapy that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art as cited hereinabove.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION.

In particular, an aim of the present invention is to propose a medical device for magnetotherapy that is manageable and easily applicable to one or more patients .

The defined technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a medical device for magnetotherapy, comprising the technical characteristics stated in one or more of the appended claims .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the indicative and thus non-limiting description of a preferred, but not exclusive, form of embodiment of a medical device for magnetotherapy, as illustrated in the appended drawings in which:

figure 1 illustrates the block diagram of a medical device for magnetotherapy, according to the present invention; figure 2 illustrates a detail of the device in figure 1, in a partially sectioned perspective view;

figure 3 illustrates some signals (low frequency signal, carrier and modulator of the high frequency signal) generated by the device in figure 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION.

With reference to figure 1, a medical device for magnetotherapy has been indicated with 1. Originally, such medical device 1 comprises at least one therapeutic section 2 designed to generate a therapeutic program and made up of a first circuit 3 suitable for generating a high frequency signal and a second circuit 4 suitable for generating a low frequency signal LF.

The high frequency signal is a modulated signal having a carrier P with a frequency greater than 15 MHz and a modulator M with a frequency ranging between 100 Hz and 5000 Hz. Preferably, the carrier P has a frequency of 30 MHz. The frequencies of the modulator M can be modified according to an increasing or decreasing pattern on the basis of the therapeutic program. The low frequency signal LF has a, frequency comprised between 6 Hz and 100 Hz.

Each pulse of the low frequency signal LF alternates with a finite train T of pulses of the high frequency signal, as can be seen in figure 3. This alternation of signals is commonly known by the term "interpolation". The medical device 1 has at least one applicator 5 made up of an antenna 6 and a solenoid 7. In particular, the antenna 6 is powered (directly or indirectly) by said first circuit 3. The solenoid 7 is instead powered (directly or indirectly) by said second circuit 4. Preferably, the first circuit 3 and the second circuit 4 of the therapeutic section 2 are activated simultaneously so as to generate the corresponding therapeutic program. Alternatively, the first circuit 3 and the second circuit 4 of the therapeutic section 2 are activated individually.

Advantageously, the device 1 comprises an internal or external wireless transmitting module which transmits data to a wireless receiving module housed in the applicator 5. The data thereby received are used to bias the solenoid 7 and to power the antenna 6.

Preferably, the medical device 1 comprises a plurality of therapeutic sections 2 designed to generate an equal number of therapeutic programs. In particular, each therapeutic section 2 is made up of a first circuit 3 and a second circuit 4. Preferably, the medical device 1 has a plurality of applicators 5, each of which is powered by one of said therapeutic sections 2. In particular, each applicator 5 is made up of an antenna 6 and a solenoid 7. The antenna 6 of each applicator 5 is powered (directly or indirectly) by one of said first circuits 3. The solenoid 7 of each applicator 5 is powered (directly or indirectly) by one of said second circuits 4.

Advantageously, a control unit 11 operatively active on the therapeutic sections 2 is provided so that they can be activated and managed in a mutually independent manner . Each therapeutic section 2 is provided with a corresponding circuit 9 for regulation and control of the voltage and current, which proves to be operatively active on the solenoids 7 and on the antennas 6 of the applicators 5 powered by that therapeutic section 2 to vary the relative magnetic fields. In fact, for each solenoid 7, it is possible to regulate the current flow in the coil turns within a predetermined interval, so as to vary the value of the magnetic induction between 10 Gauss and 100 Gauss. Preferably, the circuit 9 for regulation and control of the voltage and current includes a stage for reversing the direction of circulation of the current. In particular, the applicators 5 powered by the corresponding therapeutic section 2 (that is, by the therapeutic section 2 to which said regulation circuit 9 belongs) are arranged in pairs in such a manner that in the two solenoids 7 of each pair of applicators 5, the current flows in opposite directions so that the magnetic fields generated are of opposite polarities. Preferably, the circuit 9 for regulation and control performs a feedback control operation on the current flowing in the corresponding solenoids 7.

In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the medical device 1 has two therapeutic sections 2, each one of which powers four applicators 5 arranged in two pairs. Therefore, it is possible to execute two distinct therapeutic programs, each of which can be applied simultaneously to four patients or to four different areas of an individual patient's body.

With reference to figure 2, each applicator 5 comprises a sheath 12 made up of a circular base 12a to which a spherical cap 12b is fastened. The antenna 6 is placed inside the sheath 12 and fastened to the circular base 12a. Above the antenna 6 there is the solenoid 7, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially perpendicular with respect to the circular base 12a. As mentioned hereinabove, at least one solenoid 7 is foreseen per applicator 5. Each applicator 5 may have more than one solenoid 7 arranged in sets, for example side by side to each other, for the purpose of developing opposite polarities simultaneously.

In alternative embodiments, the applicators 5 can be integrated in box bodies of" various shapes or in bands for the body or in bed pads.

The control unit 11, preferably realized by means of a microprocessor, communicates with a keypad 14 and with a viewing screen 15 (or display) . In particular, by means of the keypad 14, the patients set the therapeutic programs, while by means of the display 15 they view the information on the proper functioning of the medical device 1.

In an embodiment for blind patients, the device 1 is provided with a dedicated section 17 for blind patients, which is also managed by the control unit 11. In particular, the dedicated section 17 is made up of a first tactile surface 18 for setting the therapeutic programs and a second tactile surface 19 for providing information in Braille on the functioning of the medical device 1 (see figure 1) . Preferably, the first tactile surface 18 consists in a tactile keypad shaped so as to fit the fingertips of a blind patient. Preferably, the second tactile surface 19 consists in a pad of pins.

The possibility that the first tactile surface 18 coincides with the keypad 14 is further comprised.

Preferably, the explanations are supplied by means of a voice indicator controlled by the control unit 11.

The medical device 1 can be powered through the mains supply or by battery. Preferably, the medical device 1 is powered by battery, whereas connection to the mains supply is used to recharge the battery. The battery charge status is monitored by the control unit 11 and in the case in which the residual charge is lower than the minimum predetermined level, the patient is notified of this by means of the display 15 or by means of a sound indicator 16. The interpolation is also managed by the control unit 11.

Communication between the therapeutic sections 2 and the applicators 5 is of the wireless type.

The operation of the medical device for magnetotherapy, according to the present invention is substantially the following .

The patient applies one of the applicators 5 to the body part to be treated and by means of the keypad 14 selects the therapeutic program to be carried out. In the event that the patient is blind, the selection of the therapeutic program is carried out using the first tactile surface 18 (which can coincide, as mentioned hereinabove, with said keypad 14) . For example it is possible to carry out a therapeutic program to treat cephalalgia .

From the description provided hereinabove, the characteristics of the magnetotherapy medical device, according to the present invention, prove to be evident, as do the advantages.

In particular, owing to the fact that the applicators receive data from the device in the wireless mode, the device is very manageable and can be easily used also by a patient who is in a distant position from the relative therapeutic section. Consider, for example, a case in which several patients are using the same medical device for treatment simultaneously: they can situate themselves with their applicator in different treatment rooms, for the sake of convenience and privacy.

Furthermore, owing to the interpolation between the high frequency signal and the low frequency signal, the human body is able to assimilate better (that is, in a more effective manner) the selected therapeutic program.

Furthermore, owing to the presence of more than one therapeutic section designed to generate more than one therapeutic program, it is possible to perform such therapeutic programs simultaneously on more than one patient or on different areas of an individual patient's body.

Furthermore, owing to the timing carried out by the control unit, the therapeutic sections can be active simultaneously or it is possible to select some of them and activate them, while the other sections remain inactive .

Furthermore, owing to the circuit for regulation and control of the voltage and current, the magnetic induction of each solenoid can be changed in such a manner as to create the magnetic field suited to the pre-selected therapeutic program, achieving a dual polarity .

Furthermore, owing to the use of feedback control, the current flow in each solenoid is controlled more efficiently with respect to prior art solutions.