Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
  • A61N1/02—Details
  • A61N1/04—Electrodes
  • A61N1/06—Electrodes for high-frequency therapy
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
  • A61N1/40—Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling ; Applying radio-frequency signals

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for the treatment of human muscles and/or tissue, comprising an electrode and a generator, the electrode being designed to be pressed against the body parts to be treated and the generator being designed to supply an alternating current to the electrode.
• a device for the treatment of human muscles and/or tissue comprising an electrode and a generator, the electrode being designed to be pressed against the body parts to be treated and the generator being designed to supply an alternating current to the electrode.
• the object of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages described above and to provide a device which has an improved action.
• the electrode comprises an electrically insulating continuous layer to be brought direct into contact with the body and having a thickness of between 0.1 and 2 mm and an area of less than 20 cm 2 , and, directly adjacent thereto, an electrode made of electrically conducting material and connected to the generator, and in that the generator is designed to operate at a frequency of between 75 and 375 kHz.
• the invention is based on the insight that a comparatively low frequency can be employed as a result of using a very thin insulation.
• the high voltage, which is so dangerous, used in the prior art is no longer necessary.
• use is made of the effect that human tissue compressed by the electrode has a lower electrical resistance. As a result, energy can be emitted more easily at that position.
• the disadvantageous effect that the blood vessels generally dilate when heat is introduced is counteracted. After all, this dilation of blood vessels is evidenced by a greater flow as a result of which some of the heat introduced is immediately removed again.
• the compression compensates for said dilation, and the cooling and screening action of the blood vessels is thereby counteracted.
• the electrode according to the invention has a comparatively small area, as a result of which a comparatively large pressure per unit area can be applied. Because passage of current is aided in this compressed area, in particular, by the lowering of the electrical resistance, there is no risk that electrical short-circuiting occurs laterally in the surrounding tissue. It has been found that particularly good results are obtained with the comparatively low frequency of between 75 and 375 kHz.
• the insulating layer at the side to be placed against the body is of smooth construction.
• the capacitance with respect to the tissue to be treated is preferably not less that 2.5 pF.
• the maximum voltage used is preferably 1500 volts.
• the electrode does not necessarily have to be placed against external body parts. It can also be placed inside the body and in such a case it is, in particular, of spherical construction. In order to generate sufficient pressure, said electrode may then be of inflatable construction. In such a case, the electrode also serves to eliminate malignant tissues. It has been found that certain malignant cells are more sensitive to heat than the surrounding healthy tissue. Keeping said cells at a somewhat increased temperature for a short time results in them dying off. In this connection, it has been observed that such dead cells can be removed by the normal system of the body (white blood corpuscles).
• the invention also relates to a method of using the electrode described above. From the above it has already become clear that it is important to place the electrode against the human tissue and/or muscles with appreciable force.
• Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a cross section of a first embodiment of an assembly comprising pressure electrode and high-frequency generator according to the invention
• Figure 2 diagrammatically shows a cross section of a second embodiment of the electrode-generator assembly more particularly intended for internal use, and
• FIG 3 diagrammatically shows a third embodiment.
• the electrode-generator assembly is indicated in its entirety by 1 in Figure 1.
• the generator is indicated by 2 and the electrode by 3. Both are accommodated in a housing « **., which is provided with a flat bottom designed to be placed on base 5.
• the generator 2 is designed to operate at a voltage of not more than 1500 volts and a frequency situated between 75 and 375 kHz.
• the generator is connected to a mains supply 7 which is shown in diagrammatic form.
• One output 6 of the generator is linked to an earth connection.
• the other output 8 of the generator is connected to the conducting plate 9 of electrode 3>
• the latter may be a comparatively thin metal foil, such as copper or aluminium foil.
• an insulating layer which has a thickness of 0.5 mm and an area of 10 cm 2 .
• Said insulating layer is indicated by 10. It is composed of a material which is, on the one hand, strong enough to offer resistance to the mechanical loads during use but, on the other hand, has an adequate insulating value.
• An example is an epoxy printed circuit board layer.
• Input 11 of the generator 2 is connected to a temperature-sensitive element 12. If for any reason the temperature at the electrode 3 becomes too high, said temperature can be adjusted by the control system in the generator 2, with the result that no dangerous situations arise.
• the pressure electrode employed here is used by placing it on the base. The body part to be treated is then placed on the insulating layer 10 and the device is switched on. If necessary, additional pressure can be generated, but the weight of the body parts concerned will usually be sufficient to provide the pressure necessary for the effect according to the invention to be achieved.
• FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• the electrical generator is indicated by 13.
• Said generator 13 is designed to operate with same characteristics as generator 2.
• the latter is, on the one hand, earthed at 6.
• the other output of the generator is connected to hollow conductor 16, which is accommodated in a catheter tube 17.
• the catheter tube is provided with an inflatable balloon 18 at the front.
• Said inflatable balloon comprises a layer 19 of insulating material having a thickness of approximately 1 mm.
• a foil 20 made of electrically conducting material and connected to conductor 16.
• FIG. 1 shows an embodiment for the treatment of fingers or toes 15. It is indicated in its entirety by 14 and is provided with a common conductor to be connected to a generator according to the invention, earth being provided in the manner described above. It is also possible to operate in a bipolar manner, i.e. the voltage from the generator is applied across the clamp halves and no separate earthing conductor is present.
• the electrode according to the invention in many other ways and to integrate or not integrate the associated generator.
• the electrode can be constructed, for example, as an inflatable tube and can be pressed against the body when used externally by all the means known in the prior art.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Surgical Instruments (AREA)
• Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19861400

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1992
  • 1992-10-20 NL NL9201819A patent/NL9201819A/nl not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1993
  • 1993-10-20 WO PCT/NL1993/000209 patent/WO1994008656A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1993-10-20 EP EP93924222A patent/EP0662854A1/en not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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