Method for tissue stimulation using frequency scanning of electric and magnetic fields - Patents.com

Abstract

To provide a method and a device for stimulating tissues in an electromagnetic field by frequency scanning.SOLUTION: Frequency scanning refers to variation of an electromagnetic field applied to tissues via increment of frequency difference adapted to feedback of tissue impedance response. A disclosed method enables determining stimulation frequency bands in order to focus stimuli in the bands until the tissue impedance response returns to an allowable level or beyond a maximum stimulating time, A device for stimulating tissues in the electromagnetic field is provided with a computing unit, an external power supply is connected to the computing unit, a decoupling circuit is connected to the external power supply and the computing unit, and an arrangement structure of an electromagnetic transducer 1 is connected to the computing unit and the decoupling circuit, and the computing unit performs the disclosed method to generate an activation signal received by the arrangement structure of an electromagnetic transducer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority benefit of Colombian Application No. NC2018 / 0001283, filed February 7, 2018. The above-mentioned patent applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety and made a part of this application.

[0002] The tissue stimulation disclosed herein relates to Colombian Application No. NC2018 / 0001282, filed February 7, 2018.

[0003] The present disclosure relates to methods for stimulating tissue with electromagnetic, electric, and magnetic fields by frequency scanning, which refers to the variation of an electromagnetic, electric, or magnetic vector through increments of frequency difference from an initial stimulation frequency to a final stimulation frequency. These stimulation methods have applications for identifying abnormalities in tissue and potentially correcting such abnormalities, including, for example, identifying cancerous tissue and reversing the growth and proliferation of said tissue. [Background technology]

[0004] It has been duly reported that changes in the electrical environment of cells can affect the normal constant homeostasis of cells. More specifically, cellular homeostasis is related to the maintenance of a healthy resting membrane potential, and changes in this membrane potential are associated with unlimited cell proliferation and differentiation (metastasis). As reported by Yang and Brackenbury (2013),

[0005] "Membrane potential (Vm) is the voltage across the plasma membrane and arises due to the presence of different ion channels / transporters with specific ion selectivity and permeability. Vm is an important biophysical signal in non-excitable cells, regulating important cellular activities such as proliferation and differentiation. Thus, the diversity of various ion channels / transporters expressed on different cells is fine-tuned to regulate Vm. It is well established that cancer cells have distinct bioelectrical properties. In particular, electrophysiological analysis in many types of cancer cells has revealed a depolarized Vm that favors cell proliferation. Ion channels / transporters control cell volume and migration, and emerging data also suggest that Vm levels have a functional role in cancer cell migration.... Given that Vm variations can functionally control tumorigenesis, differentiation, and promote cancer progression, Vm may serve as a potential marker for tumor detection and treatment with prognostic value."

[0006] Beyond simply detecting tissue abnormalities, the literature also generally suggests that influencing the cellular environment to generate cell membrane hyperpolarization may actually reverse tumor growth and metastasis (see, e.g., Ingber, "Can cancer be reversed by engineering the tumor microenvironment?" Semin Cancer Biol. October 2008, 18(5):356-364; Lobikin, Chernet, Lobo, and Levin, "Resting Potential, Oncogene-induced Tumorigenesis, and Metastasis: The Bioelectric Basis of Cancer in vivo," Phys Biol. December 2012, 9(6):065002; and Kadir, Stacey, and Barrett-Jolley, "Emerging Roles of the Membrane Potential: Action Beyond the Action Potential," Front. Physiol. November 21, 2018). Lobikin et al. (2012) specifically note that "...mechanistic dissection of the pathways by which the host reboots cancer cells may yield strategies to normalize cancer, as opposed to current approaches that attempt to kill the tumor and thereby risk triggering a compensatory proliferative response by any remaining cancer cells [citation deleted]...Most excitingly, forced hyperpolarization...through either molecular genetic or pharmacological means can functionally reduce tumorigenesis...By elucidating the fundamental role of bioelectricity in pattern formation, it is hoped that biomedicine may one day be able to activate at will the salient pathways used by highly regenerative model species to normalize tumor tissue, rather than kill it...."

[0007] Prior art, such as the papers cited above, is replete with suggestions of using pharmaceutical and molecular biology tools targeting ion channels to modulate membrane potential to obtain the anti-cancer results suggested above. However, proposed solutions that apply electric fields to identify cancerous tissue or attempt to reverse tumor formation are fairly limited. Kadir et al. (2018) state that "Even as far back as the late 1930s, tumors were detected based on voltmeter readings (Burr et al., 1938; Burr, 1940)." More recently, the application of electric fields to treat cancer has been proposed and implemented, for example, by Palti in U.S. Pat. No. 7,333,852 B2 (designated as tumor treating fields or TTFs). These clinical results of TTFs are described in the publication: Kirson, Dbaly, Tovarys, Vymazal, Soustiel, Itzhaki, Mordechovich, Steinberg-Shapira, Gurvich, Schneiderman, Wasserman, Salzberg, Ryffel, Goldsher, Dekel, and Palti, "Alternating electric fields arrest cell proliferation in animal tumor models and human brain tumors," PNAS 12 June 2007, 104(24), 10152-10157. The tumor suppressive effects of TTFields are primarily due to two separate mechanisms: interference with the formation of spindle microtubules and physical disruption of cells during division, both of which are highly dependent on the orientation of the electric field vector versus the mitotic axis.According to information provided by Novocure (see https: / / biopharmadealmakers.nature.com / users / 38001-novocure / posts / 16531-ttfields-a-radical-new-approach-to-cancer-treatment-using-electric-fields), the company commercializing the TTF solution under the OPTUNE trademark and the assignee of the above-mentioned '852 patent, "inhibition of cell proliferation and promotion of cell death by TTFields occurs at concentrations between 1 and 5 Vcm, depending on the cell type." -1 "TTFields are optimal at intensities of 100-500 kHz, with spindles being best disrupted at 150 kHz in pancreatic cancer and NSCLC and 200 kHz in ovarian cancer and GBM. Mitosis in non-cancerous cells is typically disrupted at frequencies of around 50 kHz. For optimal results, TTFields should be applied for a minimum of 18 hours per day, Novocure adds. In this sense, the average daily use of the device (i.e., treatment compliance) is an important component of clinical benefit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 7,333,852 B2 [Non-patent literature]

[0009] [Non-Patent Document 1] Ingber, “Can cancer be reversed by engineering the tumor microenvironment?”, Semin Cancer Biol. October 2008, 18(5): pp. 356-364. [Non-Patent Document 2] Lobikin, Chernet, Lobo, and Levin, “Resting Potential, Oncogene-induced Tumorigenesis, and Metastasis: The Bioelectric Basis of Cancer in vivo,” Phys Biol. December 2012, 9(6):065002 [Non-Patent Document 3] Kadir, Stacey, and Barrett-Jolley, "Emerging Roles of the Membrane Potential: Action Beyond the Action Potential," Front. Physiol., November 21, 2018. [Non-Patent Document 4] Kirson, Dbaly, Tovarys, Vymazal, Soustiel, Itzhaki, Mordechovich, Steinberg-Shapira, Gurvich, Schneiderman, Wasserman, Salzberg, Ryffel, Goldsher, Dekel, and Palti, “Alternating electric fields arrest cell proliferation in animal tumor models and human brain tumors,” PNAS June 12, 2007, 104(24), pp. 10152-10157 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present disclosure refers to methods and devices for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field using frequency scanning, and more specifically to a first method for stimulating tissue with an electric field by frequency variation, a second method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field by frequency variation, a third method that combines stimulating tissue with an electric field by frequency variation and stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, and a device for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field.

[0011] A first method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field comprises the steps of: a) applying an electric field stimulation to the tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving an activation signal, the frequency of which is an initial tissue stimulation frequency (f ie ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f fe ), the time difference (Δt e ) frequency difference (Δf e b) measuring a tissue impedance response to the stimulation of step (a); c) establishing a reference level at the tissue impedance response measured in step (b); d) establishing a tolerance (NT) for the reference level established in step (c); and e) determining a lower tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response falls below the tolerance (NT) established in step (d). bx f) determining an upper tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response returns to the tolerance (NT) established in step (d). tx and determining an upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) is the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) where "x" is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0012] A second method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field comprises the steps of: a) applying a magnetic field stimulus to the tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving an activation signal, the frequency of which is an initial tissue stimulation frequency (f im ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f fm ), the time difference (Δt m ) frequency difference (Δf ma') measuring a tissue impedance response to the magnetic field stimulation through electric field transducers of the electromagnetic transducer arrangement; c') determining a reference level at the tissue impedance response measured in step (b'); d') determining a tolerance (NT) for the reference level determined in step (c'); and e') determining a lower tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response falls below the tolerance (NT) determined in step (d'). bx f') determining an upper tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response returns to the tolerance (NT) established in step (d'). tx and determining an upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) is the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) where "x" is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0013] Additionally, the present disclosure includes other means for tissue stimulation by a combination of magnetic and electric fields with feedback to dynamically adjust the electromagnetic stimulation signal.

[0014] A device for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field is provided, the device comprising a computing unit, an external power source connected to the computing unit, a decoupling circuit connected to the external power source and to the computing unit, and an electromagnetic transducer arrangement connected to the computing unit and the decoupling circuit, the computing unit implementing a method for generating an activation signal that is received by the electromagnetic transducer arrangement via the decoupling circuit.

[0015] There is a long felt need to improve the efficiency of tissue stimulation to avoid overstimulation and to adapt the stimulation to each specific tissue. The methods disclosed herein solve this problem through feedback of the tissue stimulation response and dynamically adjusting the stimulation signal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an arrangement of transducers over a volume containing tissue. [Figure 2A] FIG. 1 illustrates an example arrangement of an electromagnetic transducer that contacts and targets arm tissue of an individual. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers that targets an individual's arm tissue without contacting the arm tissue. [Figure 3A] 1A-1C show an example of an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers for contacting tissue in the abdominal region of an individual to target tissue in the abdominal region. [Figure 3B] 1A-1C show an example of an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers that are not in contact with tissue in the abdominal region of an individual, but target tissue in the abdominal region. [Figure 4A] 1A-1C show an example of an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers for contacting and targeting tissue in the knee region of an individual. [Figure 4B] 1A-1C show an example of an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers that are not in contact with tissue in an individual's knee region but target tissue in the knee region. [Figure 5A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a change in frequency of a stimulus over time. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a sine wave activation signal. [Figure 5C] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a square wave activation signal. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an alternating square wave activation signal with varying duty cycle. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an activation signal in an alternating triangular waveform. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a segmented activation signal that combines alternating ramp signals with alternating square wave signals. [Figure 9A] FIG. 1 shows an example of tissue impedance response in a bandstop configuration with frequency-swept electromagnetic stimulation. [Figure 9B] FIG. 1 shows an example of an approximate representation of tissue impedance response in a bandstop shape due to frequency-swept electromagnetic stimulation. [Figure 9C] FIG. 13 shows an example of tissue impedance response to a low-pass shape of a frequency-scanning electromagnetic stimulus. [Figure 9D] FIG. 1 shows an example of an approximate representation of tissue impedance response to a low-pass shape of a frequency-scanning electromagnetic stimulus. [Figure 10A] FIG. 1 shows an example of tissue impedance response in bandstop configuration with four bands of frequency-scanning electromagnetic stimulation. [Figure 10B] FIG. 1 shows an example of an approximate representation of tissue impedance response in a bandstop configuration with four bands of frequency-scanning electromagnetic stimulation. [Figure 11A] 1 is a photograph of an example of some malignant tissue in an individual's neck prior to stimulation with a frequency scan of an electromagnetic field. [Figure 11B] 11B is a photograph of an example of certain malignant tissue from the neck of the same individual of FIG. 11A after it has been stimulated with a frequency sweep of an electromagnetic field. [Figure 11C] FIG. 11C shows a tissue impedance signal corresponding to the tissue impedance response over a single electric field channel of an individual at an intermediate stage between FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B. [Figure 11D] FIG. 11D illustrates a smoothed tissue impedance signal of the tissue impedance signal shown in FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a flow diagram of a method for tissue stimulation with a frequency-scanning electric field. [Figure 13] 13 is a flow diagram of a method for tissue stimulation with a frequency scanned electric field having additional steps. [Figure 14] 1 is a flow diagram of a method for tissue stimulation by a frequency-scanning electric field in which step k is disjointed. [Figure 15] 1 is a flow diagram of a method for tissue stimulation with a frequency-scanning magnetic field. [Figure 16]1 is a flow diagram of a method for tissue stimulation by a frequency scanned electric field having an additional step in which step k is disjointed. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a tissue stimulation device of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a dedicated computing unit of a tissue stimulation device of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The present disclosure discloses methods for frequency scanning of electric and magnetic fields, or a combination thereof, applied to tissue, and devices for electric and magnetic field stimulation. A first method for frequency scanning of electric and magnetic fields involves tissue stimulation with an electric field, which a) applying an electric field stimulation to tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving an activation signal, the frequency of which is an initial tissue stimulation frequency (f ie ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f fe ), the time difference (Δt e ) frequency difference (Δf e ) increment or decrement in steps, b) measuring a tissue impedance response to the stimulation of step (a); c) determining a reference level for the tissue impedance response measured in step (b); d) determining tolerances (NT) for the reference levels determined in step (c); e) The lower tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response falls below the tolerance (NT) determined in step (d). bx ) determining f) The upper tissue stimulation frequency (f) is determined as the point at which the tissue impedance response returns to the tolerance (NT) established in step (d). tx ) determining Upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) is the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) where "x" is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0018] Tissue refers to the living tissue of an organism, consisting of one or more cells, and may be composed of only one class of cells, all the same cells, or various types of cells arranged in an orderly fashion to form an organ or organism. The tissue referred to may be a healthy tissue, such as epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle tissue, muscular package, nervous tissue, or a combination thereof. The tissue may also be a tissue having a total or partial biochemical imbalance in a healthy tissue, which may then correspond to a benign tissue, a neoplastic tissue, a malignant neoplastic tissue, or any cell that is out of homeostasis or in homeostasis. The tissue may also refer to a cell in vivo, or to the cell that is in an in vivo environment prior to transplantation.

[0019] The tissue may be from or derived from animals including, but not limited to, mammals, birds including chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks, fish, crustaceans (shrimp, lobsters, crayfish), and reptiles such as crocodiles and alligators. The term "mammal" as used herein refers to any mammal classified as Mammalia, including non-human primates such as humans, cynomolgus monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, and gorillas, domestic animals including equines, bovines, caprines, canines, felines, sheep, rabbits, llamas, ungulates such as cows, sheep, pigs, horses, goats, dogs, cats, mice, rabbits, and rodents such as guinea pigs, hamsters, and rats.

[0020] Stimulation of biological tissue refers to the administration of energy to said biological tissue to induce specific changes in the properties of said biological tissue, such as, among others, tissue impedance response, tissue vascularization, tissue temperature, tissue health, tissue growth rate, etc.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 17, an example of a tissue stimulation device of the present disclosure is shown, comprising a computing unit (21), an external power source (22) connected to the computing unit (21), a decoupling circuit (23) connected to the external power source (22) and the computing unit (21), and an arrangement of an electromagnetic transducer (1) connected to the computing unit (21) and the decoupling circuit (23), wherein the computing unit (21) may be configured to implement methods for stimulating tissue with a frequency-scanning electric field, methods for stimulating tissue with a frequency-scanning magnetic field, and methods of combining stimulation with electric and magnetic fields, and to comprise a tissue stimulation device for generating an activation signal that receives the electric or magnetic field of the electromagnetic field transducer through the decoupling circuit (23).

[0022] The control system may be understood as a tissue stimulation device, a device for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, or simply a device for stimulating tissue.

[0023] 18, an example of a computing unit (21) is a dedicated computing unit with a central processing unit (CPU) (21a) connected to a first oscillator OSC 1 (21b), a second oscillator OSC 2 (21c) through an oscillator OSC n (21d), each oscillator having an activation signal output (31, 32, and 33), where n is a natural number equal to or greater than zero, such that the computing unit (21) may have up to n activation signal outputs. The activation signal outputs are also referred to as channels.

[0024] Optionally, the activation signal output (31, 32, 33) of each oscillator is connected to the arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) either directly or through a decoupling circuit (23). Alternatively, the CPU (21a) is also connected to peripheral devices selected from among other things storage devices such as memory units, databases and hard drives, input devices such as keyboards, cameras, touch screen displays and scanners, output devices such as displays and printers.

[0025] In another example of a tissue stimulation device, the oscillator is replaced by a signal generator.

[0026] Optionally, parameters of each activation signal, such as frequency, phase, amplitude, duty cycle, etc., can be modified by a user under the command of a remote computing unit through a HID connected to the tissue stimulation device.

[0027] The computing unit (21) of the tissue stimulation device may use feedback (30), for example tissue impedance response feedback, to dynamically adjust the activation signal outputs (31, 32, and 33) received by the transducers and applied to the tissue to stimulate the tissue.

[0028] Feedback (30) is a mechanism that redirects a certain portion of the output of a system to the input for the purpose of controlling the behavior of the system. For example, when stimulating tissue with electric fields, magnetic fields, or both electric and magnetic fields, there may be variations in the tissue impedance response, and by employing an electric field transducer, feedback of the tissue impedance response may be used, said feedback making it possible to sense the variations in the tissue impedance response and dynamically adjust the activation signal.

[0029] Alternatively, feedback is not limited to obtaining tissue impedance responses to tissue stimulation: feedback may incorporate, for example, measurements of temperature to determine tissue fatigue, images of tissue surfaces to determine tissue vascularization, measurements of tissue impedance responses, or combinations thereof.

[0030] When stimulating tissue with an electric field, a magnetic field, or both an electric field and a magnetic field, the temperature may gradually increase on the surface of the tissue, and a temperature sensor or temperature measuring device may be used to sense the temperature fluctuations and dynamically adjust the electric field, magnetic field, or both the electric field and the magnetic field stimulation activation signals to avoid damage to the tissue due to, for example, overheating.

[0031] In understanding the present disclosure, it should be noted that a computing unit is a device that processes data, such as a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a DSC (digital signal controller), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), a CPLD (complex programmable logic device), an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), a SoC (system on chip), a PSoC (programmable system on chip), a computer, a server, a tablet, a mobile phone, a smartphone, and computer units known to those skilled in the art, as well as combinations thereof. The computing unit may be or include a dedicated computing unit, including a storage device, a display device, and / or a human interface device (HID), and programmed to perform the methods of the present disclosure.

[0032] Storage devices include, but are not limited to, RAM memory (cache memory, SRAM, DRAM, DDR), ROM memory (flash, cache, HDD, SSD, EPROM, EEPROM, removable memory ROM (among others, SD (miniSD, microSD, etc.), MMC (Multimedia Card), Compact Flash, SMC (Smart Media Card), SDC (Secure Digital Card), MS (Memory Stick)), CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, storage, or any other means that can be used to store information and that can be accessed by a computer unit known to those skilled in the art, among others, and combinations thereof. Storage devices have memory registers in which instructions, data structures, and software modules are stored.

[0033] A display includes, but is not limited to, a monitor, which is anything that can be connected to a computing unit and display its output. Other devices known to those skilled in the art that can display data to a user include, among others, CRT monitors, flat panel displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), active matrix LCDs, passive matrix LCDs, LED displays, display projectors, TVs (4KTVs, HDTVs, Plasma TVs, Smart TVs), OLED displays, AMOLED displays, quantum dot (QD) displays, segmented displays, and combinations thereof.

[0034] HIDs include, but are not limited to, keyboards, mice, trackballs, touchpads, pointing sticks, joysticks, touch screens, and combinations thereof, among other devices known to those skilled in the art that can enable a user to input data into the computing unit of a tissue stimulation device.

[0035] The decoupling circuit allows for electrically decoupling an external power source from the electromagnetic transducer arrangement, said circuit may be based on optocouplers, relays, operational amplifiers, resistors, capacitors, transformers, combinations of these and other electronic elements together with diodes to electrically decouple two electrical circuits or elements.

[0036] The external power source makes it possible to provide the power necessary for the operation of the electromagnetic transducer arrangement and may be a device capable of maintaining a power difference between two or more terminals, such as an AC power source, a DC power source, a battery, a photovoltaic power source, a thermoelectric power source, or a combination thereof, among other devices capable of maintaining a voltage between two or more terminals known to those skilled in the art.

[0037] The activation signals received by the transducers of the electromagnetic (1), electric field or magnetic field transducer arrangement may be selected from the following: direct or alternating current signals, pulse signals, alternating or non-alternating impulse signal trains, square wave signals with varying duty cycles, triangular wave signals, sawtooth signals, amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), phase modulation (PM), pulse position modulation (PPM), pulse width modulation (PWM), and combinations thereof. These signals are generated by a computing unit or by a signal generator or combinations thereof according to a program and feedback.

[0038] The programs cited by this disclosure correspond to information, coded or uncoded, in a computing unit, and these programs modify all of the parameters of the activation signals that activate the configuration transducers (1).

[0039] The signal generator can be selected from the group consisting of a professional waveform generator, an integrated circuit synthesizer DDS (Direct Digital Synthesizer) / DAC (Digital to Analog Converter), an NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator), an array of operational amplifiers in a waveform generator configuration, a bistable oscillator circuit, and a combination of the above. The signal generator can also be referred to as a waveform generator.

[0040] Furthermore, the computing unit (21) enables one or more activation signals to be applied to each transducer at determined times, sequentially, out of phase with respect to other activation signals or various stimulation signals, randomly, or according to a program defined for each one of the transducers.

[0041] The activation signal that activates the transducers of the arrangement of the electromagnetic transducer (1) can be understood as an electromagnetic stimulation signal, an electrical stimulation signal when the predominant phenomenon originates from an electric field, or a magnetic stimulation signal when the predominant phenomenon originates from a magnetic field.

[0042] To activate the electric field transducer, the activation signal may be selected from among DC or AC signals, pulse signals, alternating or non-alternating impulse signal trains, square wave signals with varying duty cycles, triangular wave signals, sawtooth signals, amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), phase modulation (PM), pulse position modulation (PPM), pulse width modulation (PWM), and combinations thereof, among others.

[0043] In step a) of the method of the present disclosure, the method starts to stimulate the tissue by applying a signal having a determined frequency for a specific period of time that can be limited by the user or can be programmed in the computing unit. For example, the method can start with a Δt of 1 second. e f of 1 Hz ie Start by applying a frequency f ie Δf equal to 1Hz e Increment by Δt of 1 second. e New f of 2Hz ieand the same Δf e Continue incrementing with Δt of 1 second. e In the new f ie is applied.

[0044] The electromagnetic transducer arrangement may be a set of "n" electric or magnetic field transducers, or a combination thereof, where "n" is a natural number equal to or greater than one.

[0045] Said electromagnetic transducers can be designated as electromagnetic field transducers, which can be electric field transducers or magnetic field transducers, or can be constituted by a combination of electric and magnetic field transducers. Magnetic field transducers can also be designated as magnetic transducers, and electric field transducers can also be designated as electrical transducers. When the electric field is the predominant phenomenon, said electromagnetic transducers are understood to be electric field transducers, and at the same time, when the predominant phenomenon is the magnetic field, they are understood to be magnetic field transducers.

[0046] The transducers of the electromagnetic transducer arrangement have active surfaces of different shapes, which may be selected from the group consisting of geometric shapes such as squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, concentric circles, and combinations thereof, among others, to cover different areas of the exterior surface of a volume containing the tissue of interest.

[0047] The active surface of a transducer is the surface of the transducer through which the electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic field signal has greater strength.

[0048] The electric field transducer is selected from the group consisting of, among others, an engine, an electrode, a photoelectric transducer, an electric induction actuator, a conductive plate that generates an electric field, an antenna, or a combination thereof.The electric field transducer is selected from the group consisting of, among others, an engine, an electrode, a magnetic induction actuator, a magnetic field generating coil with or without a core, an electromagnet, an antenna, and a combination thereof.

[0049] 1, for example, an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) is placed on a surface of a volume (2), the arrangement including electromagnetic transducers (1a) to (1e'), in the illustrated example including pairs of transducers, a first pair of electromagnetic transducers consisting of transducer (1a) and transducer (1a'), a second pair of electromagnetic transducers consisting of transducer (1b) and transducer (1b'), a third pair of electromagnetic transducers consisting of transducer (1c) and transducer (1c'), a fourth pair of electromagnetic transducers consisting of transducer (1d) and transducer (1d'), and a fifth pair of electromagnetic transducers consisting of transducer (1e) and transducer (1e'). Each pair of transducers is oriented with their active faces facing each other and each targeting the interior of the volume (2) including the tissue of interest (3). Optionally, the active surface of the transducer is directed towards the tissue (3).

[0050] In addition, the arrangement (1) optionally satisfies the condition of orthogonality in that a plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the first pair of transducers is orthogonal to another plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the second, third, fourth and fifth pairs of transducers, and in addition any plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the second pair of transducers is orthogonal to any other plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the third, fourth and fifth pairs of transducers, and in addition any plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the third pair of transducers is orthogonal to any other plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the fourth and fifth pairs of transducers, and in addition any plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the fourth pair of transducers is orthogonal to any other plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the fifth pair of transducers, and in addition the projection of the planes of the active faces pointing towards the tissue covers the maximum possible surface of said tissue, ensuring optimal stimulation of the tissue with this arrangement.

[0051] It is also possible that the transducers comprising each pair of transducers are not perfectly aligned or parallel to one another or do not maintain the condition of transducer orthogonality described in the previous paragraph and still be successful in stimulating tissue (3).

[0052] In one example of the present disclosure, the electromagnetic transducer (1) arrangement has an active surface of the electric field transducer in contact with the outer surface of the tissue (3), such that less power is required to operate the electric field transducer as compared to other alternatives in which the electric field transducer is positioned at a determined distance from the outer surface of the tissue (3).

[0053] In another example, the active surface of the transducer, including the arrangement of the electromagnetic transducer (1), is spaced a determined distance from the outer surface of the tissue (3) (e.g., as may be necessary when no physical contact with the outer surface of the tissue is possible). In this regard, the power required to operate the electric field transducer may be greater as compared to alternative configurations in which the electric field transducer is in contact with the outer surface of the tissue (3).

[0054] Alternatively, the active surfaces of the transducers comprising the arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) are spaced a determined distance from the outer surface of the tissue (3) and a second group of transducers of the arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) are in contact with the outer surface of the tissue (3). This mixed arrangement of transducer positioning allows, for example, to efficiently reach tissue (3) found within volume (2) where the surface of said tissue (3) is altered such that some areas allow physical contact with the active surfaces of the transducers and other areas are less accessible or do not allow such physical contact.

[0055] Optionally, in step (a), an active surface of at least one of the electric field transducers in the electromagnetic transducer (1) arrangement is in contact with an outer surface of the tissue (3).

[0056] The planar projections of the active face of the transducer are arranged towards the tissue (3) to cover the largest possible surface area of ​​said tissue (3), this arrangement ensuring optimal stimulation of the tissue.

[0057] In addition, the transducers may not be perfectly aligned or parallel to one another.

[0058] The strength and direction parameters of the electric field vector towards the inside of the volume (2) depend on the arrangement of the transducers around the volume (2) containing the tissue (3). For example, the arrangement of the electric field transducers results in an electric field strength between 2 V / cm and 5 V / cm when the active surface is in contact with the surface of the volume (2). On the other hand, when the electric field transducers are placed at a defined distance from the surface, the electric field strength values ​​are between 330 V / cm and 20 kV / cm for distances between 0.01 cm and 50 cm and optionally between 0.01 cm and 4 cm.

[0059] Alternatively, the electric field strength values ​​for a transducer having an active surface in contact with the tissue surface are 2V / cm to 5V / cm, 2.1V / cm to 4.9V / cm, 2.2V / cm to 4.8V / cm, 2.3V / cm to 4.7V / cm, 2.4V / cm to 4.6V / cm, 2.5V / cm to 4.5V / cm, 2.6V / cm to 4.4V / cm, 2.7V / cm to 4.3V / cm, 2.8V / cm to 4.2V / cm, 2.9V / cm to 4.1V / cm, 3V / cm to 4V / cm, 3.1V / cm to 3.9V / cm, 4.2V / cm to 4.3V / cm, 4.3V / cm to 4.2 ... cm, 3.2V / cm to 3.8V / cm, 3.3V / cm to 3.7V / cm, 3.4V / cm to 3.6V / cm, 2.2V / cm to 5V / cm, 2.4V / cm to 5V / cm, 2.6V / cm to 5V / cm, 2.8V / cm to 5V / cm, 3V / cm to 5V / cm, 3.2V / cm to 5V / cm, 3.4V / cm to 5V / cm, 3.6V / cm to 5V / cm, 3.8V / cm to 5V / cm, 4V / cm to 5V / cm, 4.2V / cm to 5V / cm, 4.4V / cm to 5V / cm, 4.6V / cm m to 5V / cm, 4.8V / cm to 5V / cm, 2V / cm to 4.8V / cm, 2V / cm to 4.6V / cm, 2V / cm to 4.4V / cm, 2V / cm to 4.2V / cm, 2V / cm to 4V / cm, 2V / cm to 3.8V / cm, 2V / cm to 3.6V / cm, 2V / cm to 3.4V / cm, 2V / cm to 3.2V / cm, 2V / cm to 3V / cm, 2V / cm to 2.8V / cm, 2V / cm to 2.6V / cm, 2V / cm to 2.4V / cm, 2V / cm to 2.2V / cm, 2.2V / c m to 2.4 V / cm, 2.4 V / cm to 2.6 V / cm, 2.6 V / cm to 2.8 V / cm, 2.8 V / cm to 3 V / cm, 3 V / cm to 3.2 V / cm, 3.2 V / cm to 3.4 V / cm, 3.4 V / cm to 3.6 V / cm, 3.6 V / cm to 3.8 V / cm, 3.8 V / cm to 4 V / cm, 4 V / cm to 4.2 V / cm, 4.2 V / cm to 4.4 V / cm, 4.4 V / cm to 4.6 V / cm, 4.6 V / cm to 4.8 V / cm, 4.8 V / cm to 5 V / cm.

[0060] Optionally, the electric field strength values ​​for a transducer positioned at a defined distance from the tissue surface are 0.33 kV / cm to 20 kV / cm, 0.83 kV / cm to 19.5 kV / cm, 1.33 kV / cm to 19 kV / cm, 1.83 kV / cm to 18.5 kV / cm, 2.33 kV / cm to 18 kV / cm, 2.83 kV / cm to 17.5 kV / cm, 3.33 kV / cm to 17 kV / cm, 3.83 kV / cm to 16.5 kV / cm, 4.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 4.83 kV / cm to 15.5 kV / cm, 5.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 6.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 7.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 8.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 9.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 10.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 11.33 kV / cm to 19 kV / cm, 12.33 kV / cm to 18 kV / cm, 13.33 kV / cm to 17 kV / cm, 14.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 15.5 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 16.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 17.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 18.33 kV / cm to 16 kV / cm, 19.33 kV / cm to 19 kV / cm, 19.33 kV / cm to 19 kV / cm, cm, 5.33kV / cm to 15kV / cm, 5.83kV / cm to 14.5kV / cm, 6.33kV / cm to 14kV / cm, 6.83kV / cm to 13.5kV / cm, 7.33kV / cm to 13kV / cm, 7.83kV / cm to 12.5kV / cm, 8.33kV / cm to 12kV / cm, 8.83kV / cm to 11.5kV / cm, 9.33kV / cm to 11kV / cm, 9.83kV / cm to 10.5kV / cm, 1.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 2.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 3.33kV / cm m to 20kV / cm, 4.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 5.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 6.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 7.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 8.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 9.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 10.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 11.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 12.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 13.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 14.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 15.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 16.3 3kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 17.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 18.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 19.33kV / cm to 20kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 19kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 18kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 17kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 16kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 15kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 14kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 13kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 12kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 11kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 10kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 9kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 8kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 7kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 6kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 5kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 4kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 3kV / cm, 0.33kV / c m to 2kV / cm, 0.33kV / cm to 1kV / cm, 1.33kV / cm to 2.33kV / cm, 2.33kV / cm to 3.33kV / cm, 3.33kV / cm to 4.33kV / cm, 4.33kV / cm to 5.33kV / cm, 5.33kV / cm to 6.33kV / cm, 6.33kV / cm to 7.33kV / cm m, 7.33kV / cm to 8.33kV / cm, 8.33kV / cm to 9.33kV / cm, 9.33kV / cm to 10.33kV / cm, 10.33kV / cm to 11.33kV / cm, 11.33kV / cm to 12.33kV / cm, 12.33kV / cm to 13.33kV / cm, 13.33kV / cm to 14.33 kV / cm, 14.33 kV / cm to 15.33 kV / cm, 15.33 kV / cm to 16.33 kV / cm, 16.33 kV / cm to 17.33 kV / cm, 17.33 kV / cm to 18.33 kV / cm, 18.33 kV / cm to 19.33 kV / cm, 19.33 kV / cm to 20 kV / cm.

[0061] Alternatively, the transducer may be between 0.01cm and 50cm, 2cm and 48cm, 4cm and 46cm, 6cm and 44cm, 8cm and 42cm, 10cm and 40cm, 12cm and 38cm, 14cm and 36cm, 16cm and 34cm, 18cm and 32cm, 20cm and 30cm, 22cm and 28cm, 24cm and 26cm, 5cm and 50cm, 10cm and 50cm, 15cm and 50cm, 20cm and 50cm, 25cm and 50cm, 30cm and 50cm, 35cm and 50cm, 40cm and 50cm, 45cm and 50cm. m, 0.01 cm to 45 cm, 0.01 cm to 40 cm, 0.01 cm to 35 cm, 0.01 cm to 30 cm, 0.01 cm to 25 cm, 0.01 cm to 20 cm, 0.01 cm to 15 cm, 0.01 cm to 10 cm, 0.01 cm to 5 cm, 5 cm to 10 cm, 10 cm to 15 cm, 15 cm to 20 cm, 20 cm to 25 cm, 25 cm to 30 cm, 30 cm to 35 cm, 35 cm to 40 cm, 40 cm to 45 cm, 45 cm to 50 cm from the surface of the tissue.

[0062] In another example of the present disclosure, in step (a), the arrangement of the electromagnetic transducer (1) comprises at least two electric field transducers, at least two of said transducers being activated simultaneously by performing a frequency scan for a determined period of time.

[0063] Alternatively, the electromagnetic transducer of the arrangement (1) is disposed on a frame (4) that surrounds the volume (2) in order to provide a support structure for the electric field transducer, which is disposed with its active surface pointing towards the tissue of interest. The frame (4) can also be used to modify the shape of the surface of the volume (2) to form a plane that allows the position of the electric field transducer to be adjusted to obtain the optimal strength of the electric field to stimulate the tissue (3). The frame (4) can be supported on the same tissue or mechanically supported on a fixed or movable base. The type of frame (4) can be selected from the group consisting of shirts, vests, gloves, helmets, glasses, braces, stockings, boots, shoes, scarves, collars, and other structures that support the transducer, as well as combinations thereof. In addition, the frame (4) can cover the volume (2) either in whole or in part.

[0064] Optionally, the base on which the frame (4) is set may be movable to allow the arrangement (1) to be moved relative to the surface of the volume (2), thus reaching different volumes from different external points and changing the vector of the electric field.

[0065] Figure 2A illustrates the placement of an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) over a volume (2) consisting of an individual's arm, within which is tissue (3) that it is desired to electromagnetically stimulate. Said arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) includes two groups of transducers as described in more detail below.

[0066] The first group of transducers consists of two pairs of electromagnetic transducers, the first pair of electromagnetic transducers being transducer (1f) and transducer (1f') and the second pair of electromagnetic transducers being transducer (1g) and transducer (1g'), the first pair and the second pair of electromagnetic transducers being radially disposed around the humerus with their active surfaces in contact with the surface of the skin.

[0067] The second group of transducers consists of a pair of electromagnetic transducers, namely transducer (1h) and transducer (1h'), arranged in a plane normal to the axis of the humerus, with the active surface of transducer (1h) on the shoulder and in contact with the skin, and the active surface of transducer (1h') on the elbow and in contact with the skin.

[0068] The transducers of each pair are arranged such that the active faces of the transducers comprising said pair partially face each other and are aligned with the active face towards the location of the tissue (3) and the active face in contact with the skin.

[0069] In addition, the arrangement (1) optionally satisfies the condition of orthogonality in that a plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the first pair of transducers is orthogonal to another plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the second pair of transducers and the third pair of transducers, and in addition any plane parallel to the surfaces of the active faces of the second pair of transducers is orthogonal to any other plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the first pair of transducers and the third pair of transducers, and in addition the projection of the plane of the active faces pointing towards the tissue covers the maximum possible surface of said tissue, this arrangement ensuring optimal stimulation of the tissue.

[0070] Also, the transducers comprising each pair of transducers may not be perfectly aligned or parallel to one another or may not maintain the transducer orthogonality condition described in the previous paragraph and still be successful in stimulating tissue (3).

[0071] There are various diagnostic procedures for determining the location of the tissues (3), such as, among others, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, PET (positron emission tomography) scanning, X-ray imaging, Doppler echography, electrocardiogram, diagnosis by palpation, and arrow marking.

[0072] It may also be possible to know the disposition of the tissue (3) using measurements of the tissue impedance response.

[0073] FIG. 2B illustrates a similar arrangement of transducers, but with their active surfaces at a distance between 0.01 cm and 50 cm, optionally between 0.01 cm and 4 cm, from the surface of the individual's skin, which is supported by a frame (4).

[0074] Figure 3A illustrates the placement of an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) over a volume (2) of an individual's abdomen, within which is tissue (3) that it is desired to electromagnetically stimulate. The arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) includes five groups of transducers, as described in more detail below.

[0075] The first pair of electromagnetic transducers is transducer (1i) and transducer (1i'), the second pair of electromagnetic transducers is transducer (1j) and transducer (1j'), the third pair of electromagnetic transducers is transducer (1k) and transducer (1k'), and the fourth pair of electromagnetic transducers is transducer (1l) and transducer (1l').

[0076] The pair of transducers are arranged radially about an axis parallel to the spine over the abdominal and back regions such that the active faces of the transducers face each other and are in the direction of the location of the tissue (3) and the active faces are in contact with the skin.

[0077] The planar projections of the active face of the transducer are arranged in the direction of the tissue to cover the largest possible surface area of ​​said tissue, this arrangement ensuring optimal stimulation of the tissue.

[0078] In addition, the transducers comprising each pair may not be perfectly aligned or parallel to one another.

[0079] FIG. 3B illustrates a similar arrangement of the transducer, but with the active surface of the transducer at a distance of between 0.01 cm and 50 cm, optionally between 0.01 cm and 4 cm, from the surface of the individual's skin, which is supported by a frame (4).

[0080] Figure 4A illustrates the placement of an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) over a volume (2) of an individual's knee, within which is tissue (3) that it is desired to electromagnetically stimulate. The arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) includes two paired transducers as described in more detail below.

[0081] The first pair of electromagnetic transducers is transducer (1m) and transducer (1m'), and the second pair of electromagnetic transducers is transducer (1n) and transducer (1n').

[0082] The pair of transducers are positioned around the knee at the location of the tissue (3) at the level of the patella, with the active faces of the transducers facing each other towards the location of the tissue (3).

[0083] In addition, the arrangement (1) optionally satisfies the condition of orthogonality in that a plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the first pair of transducers is orthogonal to another plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the second pair of transducers and the third pair of transducers, and in addition any plane parallel to the surfaces of the active faces of the second pair of transducers is orthogonal to any other plane parallel to any of the surfaces of the active faces of the first pair of transducers and the third pair of transducers, and in addition the projection of the plane of the active faces pointing towards the tissue covers the maximum possible surface of said tissue, this arrangement ensuring optimal stimulation of the tissue.

[0084] Also, the transducers comprising each pair of transducers may not be perfectly aligned or parallel to one another or may not maintain the transducer orthogonality condition described in the previous paragraph and still be successful in stimulating tissue (3).

[0085] FIG. 4B illustrates a similar arrangement of the transducer, but with the active surface of the transducer at a distance of between 0.01 cm and 50 cm, optionally between 0.01 cm and 4 cm, from the surface of the individual's skin, which is supported by a frame (4).

[0086] Proceeding to step (b) of the method of the present disclosure, step (b) comprises measuring the tissue impedance response stimulated in step (a). When a frequency scan is applied to the tissue, the tissue responds with a variation in its parameter which is measured, optionally using the same electromagnetic transducer. This measurement of the stimulated tissue acts as feedback, allowing the characteristics of the signal of step (a) to be dynamically changed.

[0087] Later, step (c) of the method makes it possible to establish a reference level on the tissue impedance response measured in step (b), said reference level being either determined by the user for a determined time or being determined as the maximum tissue impedance response.

[0088] Continuing with step (d) of the method, this step consists in setting a tolerance value (NT) to the reference level established in step (c), said NT corresponding to a percentage value of the reference level established in step (c) and which may be defined in the computing unit or may be entered by a user.

[0089] In one example of the method, for example in step (d'), NT may be between 5% and 60%, and optionally between 25% and 50%.

[0090] Optionally, NT is between 5% and 10%, 10% and 15%, 15% and 20%, 20% and 25%, 25% and 30%, 30% and 35%, 35% and 40%, 40% and 45%, 45% and 50%, 50% and 55%, 55% and 60%, 5% and 10%, 5% and 15%, 5% and 20%, 5% and 25%, 5% and 30%, 5% and 35%, 5% and You can choose from the following ranges: 40%, 5% to 45%, 5% to 50%, 5% to 55%, 5% to 60%, 5% to 60%, 60% to 55%, 55% to 50%, 50% to 45%, 45% to 40%, 40% to 35%, 35% to 30%, 30% to 25%, 25% to 20%, 20% to 15%, 15% to 10%, and 10% to 5%.

[0091] The next step e) of the method is to determine the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response falls below the tolerance (NT) established in step (d). bx For example, three f bx is determined, and the first f b1 is equal to 75kHz, and the second f b2 is equal to 300kHz, and the third f b3 is equal to 450 kHz.

[0092] Step f) of the method then determines a higher tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response returns to the tolerance (NT) determined in step (d). tx ) can be determined. For example, tx is determined, and the first f t1 is equal to 100kHz, and the second f t2 is equal to 350kHz, and the third f t3 is equal to 495 kHz.

[0093] Alternatively, in one example, f tx f bx Greater than.

[0094] In another example of the method, in step (e), an underlying tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) and upper tissue stimulation frequency (ftx ) corresponds to the central tissue frequency.

[0095] The central tissue frequency refers to the frequency at which the electromagnetic stimulation is attenuated due to the effects of energy absorption in the tissue, for example, the electromagnetic stimulation signal drops to below 25% of the tolerance level (NT).

[0096] In addition to what has been stated above, the next aspect of the present disclosure allows for the determination of a stimulation frequency band for focusing stimulation within said band until the tissue impedance response returns to an acceptable level or the maximum stimulation time is exceeded.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 12, a first method of tissue stimulation with a frequency-swept electric field includes, as an additional step: In step (g), the higher tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) along with the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) determining a stimulation frequency band based on the At stage h), the time difference (Δt e ) frequency difference (Δf e applying magnetic field stimulation to the tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving activation signals whose frequency varies with the frequency stimulation band determined in step (g) in stepwise increments or decrements of f. In this manner, it is possible to define a frequency range of interest, for example, to perform a frequency scan centered on said frequency band, ie and f fe It is possible to stimulate tissue faster than by scanning the entire range of frequencies between

[0098] In a particular example, two f tx , i.e., the first f equal to 100 kHz t1 and a second f equal to 350 kHz. t2 is determined in step (e), and two f bx , i.e., the first f equal to 75 kHz b1and a second f equal to 300 kHz. b2 is determined in step (f). The first frequency stimulus band is f b1 and f t1 The second frequency stimulation band corresponds to frequencies between b2 and f t2 It corresponds to frequencies between

[0099] The number of frequency stimulation bands, “x”, is determined, where “x” is a natural number greater than or equal to 1, i.e., f b1 and f t1 From the band between b2 and f t2 followed by a second band between bx and f tx The number of bands between the first and second bands may be "x".

[0100] In one example of the method, Δt equals 10 minutes. e The time difference of 100Hz Δf e f equal to 75kHz in steps of b1 and f equal to 100kHz t1 Stimulation within a first band of stimulation frequencies from e With a time difference of 1 kHz, Δf e f equal to 300kHz in steps of b2 and f equal to 350kHz t2 A second stimulus within a second band of stimulation frequencies from the first frequency is applied.

[0101] f ie and f fe , Δf e , NT, and Δt e may all be set by a user within the computing unit and stored in a memory record.

[0102] Δf e may be a value between 0.1 Hz and 1 kHz, and Δt e may be between about 1 second and about 1 hour, and optionally between about 1 minute and about 1 hour.

[0103] As used herein, "about" means a variation of +20% to -20%.

[0104] Optionally, Δf e is about 0.1Hz to about 1Hz, about 0.3Hz to about 0.8Hz, about 0.5Hz to about 0.6Hz, about 0.7Hz to about 0.4Hz, about 0.9Hz to about 0.2Hz, about 0.3Hz to about 1Hz, about 0.5Hz to about 1Hz, about 0.7Hz to about 1Hz, about 0.9Hz to about 1Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 0.8Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 0.6Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 0.4Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 0.2Hz, about 0.3Hz to about 0.5Hz, about 0.5Hz z to about 0.7 Hz, about 0.7 Hz to about 0.9 Hz, about 0.1 Hz to about 1000 Hz, about 100 Hz to about 900 Hz, about 200 Hz to about 800 Hz, about 300 Hz to about 700 Hz, about 400 Hz to about 600 Hz, about 500 Hz to about 500 Hz, about 600 Hz to about 400 Hz, about 700 Hz to about 300 Hz, about 800 Hz to about 200 Hz, about 900 Hz to about 100 Hz, about 1000 Hz to about 0.1 Hz, about 100 Hz to about 1000 Hz, About 200Hz to about 1000Hz, about 300Hz to about 1000Hz, about 400Hz to about 1000Hz, about 500Hz to about 1000Hz, about 600Hz to about 1000Hz, about 700Hz to about 1000Hz, about 800Hz to about 1000Hz, about 900Hz to about 1000Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 900Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 800Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 700Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 600Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 500Hz, about 0.1 Hz to about 400 Hz, about 0.1 Hz to about 300 Hz, about 0.1 Hz to about 200 Hz, about 0.1 Hz to about 100 Hz, about 100 Hz to about 200 Hz, about 200 Hz to about 300 Hz, about 300 Hz to about 400 Hz, about 400 Hz to about 500 Hz, about 500 Hz to about 600 Hz, about 600 Hz to about 700 Hz, about 700 Hz to about 800 Hz, about 800 Hz to about 900 Hz, and about 900 Hz to about 1000 Hz.

[0105] In addition, examples of this method include, for example, tx F bx and in step (a), the frequency of the activation signal is smaller than Δt e During e This is possible if the decrement is performed in steps of the frequency difference.

[0106] Returning to step (a) of the method, the initial tissue stimulation frequency (f ie ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f fe Activation signals having frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 100 Hz may be applied to the transducers using a multiplexer arrangement that allows one or more electrical field stimulation signals to be applied to each transducer at determined times, sequentially, out of phase with respect to other or various stimulation signals, randomly, or according to a program set up for each of the transducers.

[0107] With reference to Figures 7 and 8, it will be appreciated that the activation signal may be composed of a modulation signal (8) and a carrier signal (9), the carrier signal (9) optionally being of a higher frequency order than the modulation signal (8).

[0108] In one example of this method, the modulating signal (8) has a frequency of 100 kHz, while the carrier signal (9) has a frequency of less than 1 kHz.

[0109] In one example of this method, for both the carrier signal (9) and the modulating signal (8), ie and f fe is between 0.1Hz and 1000kHz.

[0110] Optionally, f ie and f feThe frequencies are approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.3 Hz to approximately 0.8 Hz, approximately 0.5 Hz to approximately 0.6 Hz, approximately 0.7 Hz to approximately 0.4 Hz, approximately 0.9 Hz to approximately 0.2 Hz, approximately 0.3 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.5 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.7 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.9 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 0.8 Hz, approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 0.6 Hz, approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 0.4Hz, approximately 0.1Hz to approximately 0.2Hz, approximately 0.3Hz to approximately 0.5Hz, approximately 0.5Hz to approximately 0.7Hz, approximately 0.7Hz to approximately 0.9Hz, approximately 0.1Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 100Hz to approximately 900Hz, approximately 200Hz to approximately 800Hz, approximately 300Hz to approximately 700Hz, approximately 400Hz to approximately 600Hz, approximately 500Hz to approximately 500Hz, approximately 600Hz to approximately Approximately 400Hz, approximately 700Hz to approximately 300Hz, approximately 800Hz to approximately 200Hz, approximately 900Hz to approximately 100Hz, approximately 1000Hz to approximately 0.1Hz, approximately 100Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 200Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 300Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 400Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 500Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 600Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 70 0Hz to about 1000Hz, about 800Hz to about 1000Hz, about 900Hz to about 1000Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 900Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 800Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 700Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 600Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 500Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 400Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 300Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 200Hz, about 0.1Hz to approx. 100Hz, approx. 100Hz to approx. 200Hz, approx. 200Hz to approx. 300Hz, approx. 300Hz to approx. 400Hz, approx. 400Hz to approx. 500Hz, approx. 500Hz to approx. 600Hz, approx. 600Hz to approx. 700Hz, approx. 700Hz to approx. 800Hz, approx. 800Hz to approx. 900Hz, approx. 900Hz to approx. 1000Hz, approx. 100kHz to approx. 900kHz, approx. 200kHz to approx. 800kHz, approx. 300kHz to approx. 700 kHz, about 400kHz to about 600kHz, about 100kHz to about 1000kHz, about 200kHz to about 1000kHz, about 300kHz to about 1000kHz, about 400kHz to about 1000kHz, about 500kHz to about 1000kHz, about 600kHz to about 1000kHz, about 700kHz to about 1000kHz, about 800kHz to about 1000kHz, about 900kHz to about 1000kHz, about 0.0001kHz to About 900kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 800kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 700kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 600kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 500kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 400kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 300kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 200kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 100kHz, about 100kHz to about 200kHz, about 200kHz to about The frequency may be selected from the ranges of 300 kHz, about 300 kHz to about 400 kHz, about 400 kHz to about 500 kHz, about 500 kHz to about 600 kHz, about 600 kHz to about 700 kHz, about 700 kHz to about 800 kHz, about 800 kHz to about 900 kHz, about 900 kHz to about 1000 kHz, about 1 Hz to about 500 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 500 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 50 kHz, and about 1 Hz to about 50 kHz.

[0111] 5A, there is observed a graph of frequency versus time corresponding to a modulation signal (8) for an activation signal for tissue stimulation by a frequency-scanning electromagnetic field. In this example, said modulation signal (8) increases in frequency every second by applying a Δf of 1 Hz from an initial frequency of 1 Hz to a final frequency of 5 Hz, with each frequency applied for a Δt of 1 second.

[0112] Referring to Figure 5B, an example of an activation signal by electromagnetic stimulation applied to an electromagnetic transducer is shown in which the modulation signal (8) has a sinusoidal waveform and its frequency varies from an initial frequency of 1 Hz to 5 Hz with a Δf of 1 Hz every 1 second from 1 to 5 seconds. The carrier signal (9) is an impulse type signal with a fixed period (10) of 2 ms or a fixed frequency of 500 Hz.

[0113] 5C, an example of an activation signal for electromagnetic stimulation is shown in which the modulation signal (8) has a square waveform and its frequency varies from an initial frequency of 1 Hz to 5 Hz with a Δf of 1 Hz every 1 second from 1 to 5 seconds. The carrier signal (9) is a pulsed signal with a fixed period (10) of 100 ms or a fixed frequency of 10 kHz.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 6, an example of an activation signal for electromagnetic stimulation is shown where the modulating signal (8) has an alternating square waveform and varies in duty cycle, while its frequency remains fixed, and the carrier signal (9) is a pulsed signal with a fixed period (10) of 200 μs or a fixed frequency of 5 kHz.

[0115] Referring to FIG. 7, an example of an activation signal for electromagnetic stimulation is shown in which the modulating signal (8) has an alternating triangular waveform and its frequency is fixed, and the carrier signal (9) is a pulsed signal having a fixed period (10) of 2 μs or a fixed frequency of 500 kHz.

[0116] Referring to FIG. 8, an example of an activation signal for electromagnetic stimulation is shown in which the modulating signal (8) has a segmented function combining alternating ramp and square waveform signals, and the carrier signal (9) is a pulsed signal having a fixed period (10) of 2 μs or a fixed frequency of 500 kHz.

[0117] In one example of the present disclosure, the modulated signal (8) dynamically varies its duty cycle based on the response of the tissue impedance response measured in step (b). The duty cycle is between 0% and 100%, allowing for varying the power applied to the tissue (3) for one or more transducers. A duty cycle of 0% can be used, for example, to stop activation of the signal for a determined period of time.

[0118] Optionally, the modulation signal (8) of the activation signal and / or the carrier signal (9) may be selected from the group consisting of: 0% to 100%, 5% to 95%, 10% to 90%, 15% to 85%, 20% to 80%, 25% to 75%, 30% to 70%, 35% to 65%, 40% to 60%, 45% to 55%, 10% to 100%, 20% to 100%, 30% to 100%, 40% to 100%, 50% to 100%, 60% to 100%, 70% to 100%, 80% to 100%, 90% to 100%, 100% to 100%, 15% to 85%, 20% to 80%, 25% to 75%, 30% to 70%, 35% to 65%, 40% to 60%, 45% to 55%, 10% to 100%, 20% to 100%, 30% to 100%, 40% to 100%, 50% to 100%, 60% to 100%, 70% to 100%, 100% to 100%, 15 ... You can select from the following ranges: 0%, 80% to 100%, 90% to 100%, 0% to 90%, 0% to 80%, 0% to 70%, 0% to 60%, 0% to 50%, 0% to 40%, 0% to 30%, 0% to 20%, 0% to 10%, 10% to 20%, 20% to 30%, 30% to 40%, 40% to 50%, 50% to 60%, 60% to 70%, 70% to 80%, 80% to 90%, and 90% to 100%.

[0119] Referring to FIG. 9A, an example of a tissue impedance response is shown, in which the tissue responds to an initial frequency stimulus (f i ) to the final stimulation frequency (f f ) stimulated by a frequency-scanning electromagnetic field.

[0120] The tissue impedance response is f i The response is measured and graphed starting from the response value for tissue impedance oscillating about a maximum amplitude value (A1) as the tissue stimulation frequency is increased in steps from Δf for each determined Δt.

[0121] Continuing to increment the stimulation frequency value causes the tissue impedance response value to fall below the tissue impedance response tolerance level value (NT). This frequency value is referred to as the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) is specified.

[0122] As the tissue stimulation frequency increases, the tissue impedance response continues to decrease to a minimum amplitude value (A0) which is maintained as the tissue stimulation frequency increases.

[0123] As the frequency value increases, the tissue impedance response value begins to rise until it reaches a tissue impedance response value that oscillates around (A1). This frequency value is f f The upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) is specified.

[0124] Subscript "e" ie , la f fe , Δf e , and Δt e ) or "m" (f im , f fm , Δf m , and Δt m ) without f i , f f When reference is made to , Δf, and Δt, these are understood to refer to either of two phenomena: the magnetic field or the electric field.

[0125] Referring to FIG. 9B, this corresponds to an approximate representation of the example response described in FIG. 9A, where the tissue impedance response is smoothed by using an average value of the impedance values ​​of the tissue impedance response, said smoothing being performed, for example, by using a digital filter.

[0126] The digital filter is selected from the group of filters consisting of FIR, Parks-McClellan, least squares, Kaiser window, and IIR filters such as Butterworth, Chebyshev, elliptic filters, among others known to those skilled in the art. It is understood that the purpose of smoothing a signal is to remove signal noise or to remove atypical values ​​through simple averaging or through digital filters.

[0127] Referring to FIG. 9C, an example of a tissue impedance response is shown, where the tissue responds to an initial frequency stimulus (f i ) to the final stimulation frequency (f f ) stimulated by an electromagnetic field with a frequency scanning up to

[0128] The tissue impedance response is f ie The response is measured and graphed starting from the response value for tissue impedance oscillating about a maximum amplitude value (A1) as the tissue stimulation frequency is increased in steps from Δf for each determined Δt.

[0129] Continuing to increment the stimulation frequency value causes the tissue impedance response value to fall below the tissue impedance response tolerance level value (NT). This frequency value is referred to as the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) is specified.

[0130] As the tissue stimulation frequency increases, the tissue impedance response continues to decrease to a minimum amplitude value (A0), which decreases with increasing tissue stimulation frequency to the final stimulation frequency (f f ) is reached.

[0131] Referring to FIG. 9D, this corresponds to one example of an approximate representation of the response of the example described in FIG. 9C, where the tissue impedance response is smoothed by using an average value of the impedance values ​​of the tissue impedance response, for example by using a digital filter.

[0132] In another example of this method, referring to FIG. 13, the additional step following step (h) of the method already described above is: i) Maximum stimulation time (t max ) thereby making it possible to protect the tissue from excessive stimulation, j) measuring tissue impedance response to the stimulation of step (h); k) The tissue impedance response measured in step (j) for the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g) returns to the tolerance (NT) established in step (d) or the maximum stimulation time (t max ) is what we are verifying.

[0133] In one example of this method, step (i) t max may be between about 1 hour and about 18 hours. max When referring to "about" should be understood as a 5% variation of the maximum stimulation time.

[0134] In a particular example of this method, referring to FIG. 14, in step (k), verification, i.e. - Maximum stimulation time (t max ) is exceeded, the end - Maximum stimulation time (t max ) and the tissue impedance response measured in step (j) is less than the tolerance value (NT) established in step (d), repeating step (h); - if the tissue impedance response measured in step (j) for the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g) exceeds the tolerance value (NT) established in step (d), then termination is performed.

[0135] Referring to FIG. 10A, iAn example of the tissue impedance response of tissue stimulated with an electric or magnetic field by a frequency scan from is shown. The tissue impedance response is measured and graphed simultaneously. The response begins with the tissue impedance response value oscillating around a maximum amplitude value (A1).

[0136] As the tissue stimulation frequency is increased in steps from Δf, a first lower tissue stimulation frequency (f b1 The oscillation continues around (A1) until it reaches (A2).

[0137] As the tissue stimulation frequency continues to increase, the tissue impedance response value continues to drop to a tissue impedance response value that oscillates about a minimum amplitude value (A0) where the tissue impedance response value begins to increase and remains until it reaches (A1). This point is referred to as the first upper tissue stimulation frequency (f t1 ).

[0138] f b1 and f t1 The frequency range between is the first stimulation band.

[0139] As the tissue stimulation frequency continues to increase, the frequency stimulation becomes f f The second stimulation frequency band range is f b2 and f t2 and the third stimulation frequency band range is in the frequency range between f b3 and f t3 The fourth stimulation frequency band range is in the frequency range between b4 and f t4 The frequency range is between

[0140] These stimulation bands refer to ranges of central tissue frequencies that exhibit biochemical imbalance.

[0141] Optionally, in step (e), another example of the method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field comprises: bx ) and upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx) corresponds to the central tissue frequency.

[0142] Alternatively, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, the activation signal to the electric field transducer varies in response to tissue temperature feedback.

[0143] In another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, the stimulated biological tissue is tissue within the body of an animal.

[0144] In another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, the stimulated living tissue is an animal.

[0145] Alternatively, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, an electromagnetic transducer is in contact with an outer surface of the tissue.

[0146] In yet another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, an electromagnetic transducer is positioned a determined distance from an exterior surface of the biological tissue.

[0147] In one example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, a first portion of an electromagnetic transducer is in contact with an outer surface of the biological tissue and a second portion of the electromagnetic transducer is positioned a determined distance from the outer surface of the biological tissue.

[0148] Optionally, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic transducers are activated according to a defined sequence.

[0149] Alternatively, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic transducers are activated randomly.

[0150] Optionally, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, activation signals are applied to each transducer at determined times, sequentially, out of phase with respect to other activation signals or various stimulation signals, randomly, or according to a program that is established for each one of the transducers.

[0151] Referring to FIG. 10B, this corresponds to an approximate representation of the example response described in FIG. 10A, where the tissue impedance response has been smoothed, for example by using the average value of the response in amplitude, using the means described above.

[0152] Additionally, in one example of the method, in step (a), a magnetic field stimulation is applied through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers that receive an activation signal, the frequency of which is equal to an initial tissue stimulation frequency (f im ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f fm ), the time difference (Δt m ) frequency difference (Δf m ) to allow for combined magnetic and electric field stimulation, for example to widen the area of ​​electric field stimulation in tissue. In another example, in step (a), the magnetic field stimulation is orthogonal to the electric field stimulation.

[0153] The magnetic field transducer is optionally arranged so that it generates a magnetic field that is orthogonal to the electric field of the electric field transducer, thereby providing optimal stimulation of tissue.

[0154] Nevertheless, the magnetic field transducers may be capable of being arranged in different configurations in which the magnetic field generated by said magnetic field transducers is not orthogonal to the electric field generated by the electric field transducers in that arrangement.

[0155] In another example of the present disclosure, for example, a transducer in the arrangement of electromagnetic transducer (1) is a magnetic field transducer that may or may not be faced by another magnetic field transducer or another electric field transducer.

[0156] To activate the magnetic field transducer, the activation signal may be selected from among DC or AC signals, pulse signals, alternating or non-alternating impulse signal trains, square wave signals with varying duty cycles, triangular wave signals, sawtooth signals, amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), phase modulation (PM), pulse position modulation (PPM), pulse width modulation (PWM), and combinations thereof, among others.

[0157] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 15, another method of the present disclosure is tissue stimulation using a magnetic field, which a') applying a magnetic field stimulus to the tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving an activation signal, the frequency of which is an initial tissue stimulation frequency (f im ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f fm ), the time difference (Δt m ) frequency difference (Δf m ) increment or decrement in steps, b') measuring tissue impedance response to magnetic field stimulation via electric field transducers of an electromagnetic transducer arrangement; c') determining a reference level for the tissue impedance response measured in step (b'); d') determining tolerances (NT) for the reference levels determined in step (c'); e') The lower tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response falls below the tolerance (NT) determined in step (d'). bx ) determining f') The upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) determining Upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) is the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) where "x" is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0158] The magnetic transducers are arranged above a volume (2) containing tissue (3) to be stimulated. Each magnetic transducer generates a magnetic field that is applied to the tissue (3). The magnetic field generated by each transducer is optionally modulated with an initial frequency (f im ) to a final frequency (f fm ) is controlled by an activation signal having a

[0159] In one example, the strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field transducer when activated by an activation signal can be between 0.1 mT (millitesla) corresponding to 1 Gauss and 200 mT (millitesla) corresponding to 2000 Gauss, optionally between 40 mT (millitesla) corresponding to 400 Gauss and 200 mT (millitesla) corresponding to 2000 Gauss.

[0160] Optionally, the intensity generated by the magnetic field transducer is between 1 mT and 10 mT, 10 mT and 20 mT, 20 mT and 30 mT, 30 mT and 40 mT, 40 mT and 50 mT, 50 mT and 60 mT, 60 mT and 70 mT, 70 mT and 80 mT, 80 mT and 90 mT, 90 mT and 100 mT, 100 mT and 110 mT, 110 mT and 120 mT, 120 mT and 130 mT, 130 mT and to 140mT, 140mT to 150mT, 150mT to 160mT, 160mT to 170mT, 170mT to 180mT, 180mT to 190mT, 190mT to 200mT, 1mT to 10mT, 1mT to 20mT, 1mT to 30mT, 1mT to 40mT, 1mT to 50mT, 1mT to 60mT, 1mT to 70mT, 1mT to 80mT, 1mT to 90mT, 1mT to 100 mT, 1mT to 110mT, 1mT to 120mT, 1mT to 130mT, 1mT to 140mT, 1mT to 150mT, 1mT to 160mT, 1mT to 170mT, 1mT to 180mT, 1mT to 190mT, 1mT to 200mT, 1mT to 200mT, 200mT to 190mT, 190mT to 180mT, 180mT to 170mT, 170mT to 160mT, 160mT to The range is selected from the ranges of 150mT, 150mT to 140mT, 140mT to 130mT, 130mT to 120mT, 120mT to 110mT, 110mT to 100mT, 100mT to 90mT, 90mT to 80mT, 80mT to 70mT, 70mT to 60mT, 60mT to 50mT, 50mT to 40mT, 40mT to 30mT, 30mT to 20mT, and 20mT to 10mT.

[0161] Define Δt m refers to a period of time that may vary depending on the application required to use this method.

[0162] f im and f fm , Δf m and Δt m is set by the user in the computing unit and stored in a memory record. im , ffm , Δf m , and Δt m The applicable range values ​​of f in electromagnetic stimulation are cited earlier in this disclosure. ie , f fe , Δf e , and Δt e is the same as that used for

[0163] Optionally, f im and f fm is within a frequency range between about 0.1 Hz and about 1000 kHz, and optionally between about 25 Hz and about 1000 kHz.

[0164] Alternatively, f im and f fmThe frequencies are approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.3 Hz to approximately 0.8 Hz, approximately 0.5 Hz to approximately 0.6 Hz, approximately 0.7 Hz to approximately 0.4 Hz, approximately 0.9 Hz to approximately 0.2 Hz, approximately 0.3 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.5 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.7 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.9 Hz to approximately 1 Hz, approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 0.8 Hz, approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 0.6 Hz, approximately 0.1 Hz to approximately 0.4Hz, approximately 0.1Hz to approximately 0.2Hz, approximately 0.3Hz to approximately 0.5Hz, approximately 0.5Hz to approximately 0.7Hz, approximately 0.7Hz to approximately 0.9Hz, approximately 0.1Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 100Hz to approximately 900Hz, approximately 200Hz to approximately 800Hz, approximately 300Hz to approximately 700Hz, approximately 400Hz to approximately 600Hz, approximately 500Hz to approximately 500Hz, approximately 600Hz to approximately Approximately 400Hz, approximately 700Hz to approximately 300Hz, approximately 800Hz to approximately 200Hz, approximately 900Hz to approximately 100Hz, approximately 1000Hz to approximately 0.1Hz, approximately 100Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 200Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 300Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 400Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 500Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 600Hz to approximately 1000Hz, approximately 70 0Hz to about 1000Hz, about 800Hz to about 1000Hz, about 900Hz to about 1000Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 900Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 800Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 700Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 600Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 500Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 400Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 300Hz, about 0.1Hz to about 200Hz, about 0.1Hz to approx. 100Hz, approx. 100Hz to approx. 200Hz, approx. 200Hz to approx. 300Hz, approx. 300Hz to approx. 400Hz, approx. 400Hz to approx. 500Hz, approx. 500Hz to approx. 600Hz, approx. 600Hz to approx. 700Hz, approx. 700Hz to approx. 800Hz, approx. 800Hz to approx. 900Hz, approx. 900Hz to approx. 1000Hz, approx. 100kHz to approx. 900kHz, approx. 200kHz to approx. 800kHz, approx. 300kHz to approx. 700 kHz, about 400kHz to about 600kHz, about 100kHz to about 1000kHz, about 200kHz to about 1000kHz, about 300kHz to about 1000kHz, about 400kHz to about 1000kHz, about 500kHz to about 1000kHz, about 600kHz to about 1000kHz, about 700kHz to about 1000kHz, about 800kHz to about 1000kHz, about 900kHz to about 1000kHz, about 0.0001kHz to About 900kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 800kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 700kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 600kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 500kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 400kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 300kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 200kHz, about 0.0001kHz to about 100kHz, about 100kHz to about 200kHz, about 200kHz to about The frequency may be selected from the ranges of 300 kHz, about 300 kHz to about 400 kHz, about 400 kHz to about 500 kHz, about 500 kHz to about 600 kHz, about 600 kHz to about 700 kHz, about 700 kHz to about 800 kHz, about 800 kHz to about 900 kHz, about 900 kHz to about 1000 kHz, about 1 Hz to about 500 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 500 kHz, about 1 kHz to about 50 kHz, and about 1 Hz to about 50 kHz.

[0165] In one example of the present disclosure, the activation signal used for the magnetic field stimulation, similar to the activation signal used for the electric field stimulation, may be composed of a carrier signal (9) and a modulation signal (8). For example, f im and f fmis between 0.1 Hz and 500 kHz, and the carrier signal (9) optionally has a frequency that is an order of magnitude greater than the frequency of the modulating signal (8).

[0166] In one example of the method, for example in step (d'), NT can be between 5% and 60%, and optionally between 25% and 50%. The applicable range values ​​of NT for magnetic stimulation are the same as those used for NT for electromagnetic stimulation cited earlier in this specification.

[0167] In another example of this method, in step (e'), the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) and upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) corresponds to the central tissue frequency.

[0168] In addition, the control unit determines the initial stimulation frequency (f im ), final tissue stimulation frequency (f fm ), and the frequency difference (Δf m ), and optionally these characteristics are set by the user and stored in memory for applying the method.

[0169] A pulsing function may be used to activate the magnetic field, where f im and f fm is between 0.1Hz and 1000kHz, and Δf m has a range between 0.1Hz and 1kHz, and Δt m is between 1 second and 1 hour, and optionally between 1 minute and 1 hour.

[0170] In addition, it may be possible to use activation signals for frequency-scanned magnetic stimulation with a square waveform with frequencies from 1 Hz to 50 kHz. For frequencies from 1 Hz to 5 kHz, a duty cycle variation between 0.4% and 5% is applied for a maximum field strength of 200 mT (millitesla), which corresponds to 2000 Gauss. Then, for frequencies from 5 kHz to 50 kHz, a duty cycle variation between 5% and 25% is applied for a maximum field strength of 40 mT (millitesla), which corresponds to 400 Gauss. This frequency scan is performed for a period of t of 1 hour. max may be applied to the subject and repeated daily for six days.

[0171] In addition to the above, and referring to FIG. 15, in another example of this method, the steps completed subsequent to step (f′) include: g') The upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) along with the lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx determining a stimulation frequency band based on the h') Time difference (Δt m ) frequency difference (Δf m applying a magnetic field stimulus to the tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving activation signals whose frequency varies according to the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g') in stepwise increments or decrements of (g').

[0172] In another example of this method, referring to FIG. 16, the additional step following step (h′) of the method already described above is: i') Maximum stimulation time (t max ) thereby making it possible to protect the tissue from excessive stimulation, b') measuring tissue impedance response to the stimulation of step (h') via electric field transducers of an electromagnetic transducer arrangement; k') The tissue impedance response measured in step (j') for the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g') returns to the tolerance (NT) established in step (d') or the maximum stimulation time (t max ) is what we are verifying.

[0173] In one example of this method, t in step (i') max may be between about 1 hour and about 18 hours. max When referring to "about" should be understood as a 5% variation of the maximum stimulation time.

[0174] In a particular example of this method, in step (k'), a verification, i.e. - Maximum stimulation time (t max ) is exceeded, the end - Maximum stimulation time (t max ) and the tissue impedance response measured in step (j') is less than the tolerance value (NT) established in step (d'), repeating step (h'); - if the tissue impedance response measured in step (j') for the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g') exceeds the tolerance value (NT) established in step (d'), then termination is performed.

[0175] In addition to the above, tissue stimulation may also be applied using spatial scanning, as described in Columbia application NC2018 / 0001282, filed February 7, 2018.

[0176] In another example of this method, the activation signal follows a defined pattern: A) defining an index for each magnetic field transducer in a transducer arrangement; B) selecting an index to be assigned to the transducer using a computing unit; C) Activate the magnetic field transducer corresponding to the selected index and measure the determined time difference (Δt m ) frequency difference (Δf m ) increments of the initial tissue stimulation frequency (f i ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f fm stimulating the tissue using D) Incrementing the index value and repeating step C) until all of the attributed indexes have been used.

[0177] Alternatively, in this particular example of the method, in step D), this index value is randomly changed and then back to step C).

[0178] Thus, the transducers may be activated randomly, or it is also possible to activate them in a defined sequence that depends on the stimulation of the target tissue.

[0179] Optionally, in step (e'), in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, a lower tissue stimulation frequency (f bx ) and upper tissue stimulation frequency (f tx ) corresponds to the central tissue frequency.

[0180] Alternatively, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, the activation signal to the electric field transducer is varied in response to tissue temperature feedback.

[0181] In another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, the stimulated biological tissue is tissue within the body of an animal.

[0182] In another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, the stimulated living tissue is an animal.

[0183] Alternatively, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, an electromagnetic transducer is in contact with an outer surface of the tissue.

[0184] In yet another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, an electromagnetic transducer is positioned a determined distance from an exterior surface of the biological tissue.

[0185] In another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, a first portion of an electromagnetic transducer is in contact with an outer surface of the biological tissue and a second portion of the electromagnetic transducer is positioned a determined distance from the outer surface of the biological tissue.

[0186] Optionally, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, electromagnetic transducers are activated according to a defined sequence.

[0187] Alternatively, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic transducers are activated randomly.

[0188] Optionally, in another example of a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, activation signals are applied to each transducer at determined times, sequentially, out of phase with respect to other activation signals or various stimulation signals, randomly, or according to a program that is established for each one of the transducers.

[0189] In another example of the present disclosure, an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) can be used to stimulate tissue (3), where the electric field transducers and the magnetic field transducers apply a combination of electrical and magnetic stimulation signals with combined characteristics based on feedback of the strength of the magnetic field applied to the tissue, feedback of the tissue impedance, or a combination of the two.

[0190] A third method for tissue stimulation is a method for stimulating tissue with both electric and magnetic fields, which method a*) applying electric and magnetic field stimuli to tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving activation signals, the parameters of the activation signals varying over time; b*) measuring tissue impedance responses to the stimulation of step (a*) through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers and storing said measurements in a memory register of the computing unit; c*) modifying parameters of the activation signal according to the tissue impedance response measured in step (b*) via the computing unit and returning to step (a*); The parameters of the activation signal are modulation, phase, frequency, amplitude, duration, duty cycle, and shape.

[0191] In addition, the temperature can be measured from above the tissue to determine when the tissue being stimulated is affected, and based on the temperature level, the computing unit makes a decision to stop the stimulation to avoid damaging the tissue.

[0192] That is, the activation signal of the magnetic transducer may follow a pattern that changes in response to tissue temperature feedback, and this is also true for the activation signal of the electric field transducer.

[0193] It may be possible to combine tissue stimulation using the frequency-scanning electric field method with tissue stimulation using the frequency-scanning magnetic field method. In one example, the arrangement of electromagnetic transducers (1) comprises magnetic field transducers and electric field transducers arranged overlapping and orthogonal to each other, with their active faces towards the tissue (3), thereby applying a combined electric and magnetic field stimulation according to an activation pattern.

[0194] Examples of methods of the present disclosure as applied to individuals In one example of the present disclosure, tissue stimulation is performed on an individual following initial diagnosis of poorly differentiated malignant neoplasia as shown in Figure 11 A. Immunohistochemical markers show the following results: - Cytokeratin 5 / 6: positive in tumor cells, - P63: positive in tumor cells, - High molecular weight cytokeratin: positive in tumor cells, - SOX10: negative in tumor cells, and - Ber-EP4: negative in tumor cells.

[0195] The tissue was stimulated using a device for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field implementing the method for stimulating tissue of the present disclosure, which used the following arrangement of electromagnetic transducers: - two pairs of orthogonally arranged electric field transducers (disposable 2 x 3.5 inch electrotherapy electrodes manufactured by Compass Health Brands Corp. for use as disposable conductive adhesive joints between the patient's skin and an electrical stimulation device); and - A pair of magnetic field transducers arranged orthogonally to the two pairs of electric field transducers.

[0196] With the described arrangement, the magnetic field and electric field stimuli are applied orthogonally to each other.

[0197] The computing unit of the device generates activation signals according to a program established for each magnetic transducer. Specifically, the pair of magnetic field transducers is connected to the first and second channels of the device, has an amplitude of 72 Vpp (peak-to-peak voltage), and has an initial tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 1 Hz. im to a final tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 50 kHz fm From the frequency scan, two stimulation frequency bands are determined by the computing unit, the first stimulation frequency band being a first lower tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 1 Hz, b1 to a first upper tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 5 kHz t1 the second stimulation frequency band corresponds to a frequency range up to a second lower tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 5 kHz; b2 to a second upper tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 50 kHz t2 Supports a frequency range up to

[0198] These two pairs of electric field transducers were connected to the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth channels of the device, respectively. Each pair received an activation signal with an amplitude of 72 Vpp (peak-to-peak voltage). The carrier signal was a fixed-frequency alternating impulse train of 150 kHz modulated with PWM with a duty cycle of 15%, and the modulating signal was a triangular waveform with varying frequency. This activation signal had an initial tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 1 kHz. ie to a final tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 500 kHz fe From the frequency scan, three stimulation frequency bands were determined by the computing unit, the first stimulation frequency band being a first lower tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 1 kHz, b1 to a first upper tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 50 kHz t1 and the second stimulation frequency band corresponds to a frequency range up to a second lower tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 150 kHz. b2 to a second upper tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 250 kHz t2 the third stimulation frequency band corresponds to a frequency range up to a third lower tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 320 kHz; b3 a third upper tissue stimulation frequency f equal to 420 kHz t3 Supports a frequency range up to

[0199] The measured average power delivered to the tissue in the above examples was in the range of 0.2 W to 0.5 W. The electrode temperature never exceeded 40°C.

[0200] After determining the stimulation frequency bands, a device for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field applied the activation signal of each of these stimulation frequency bands for 1 h each day for a total of 6 days. In all cases, the frequency difference (Δf) step was 500 Hz and the time difference (Δt) step was 1 s.

[0201] Referring to Figure 11B, a photograph of the same individual is shown showing a significant reduction in the malignant tumor mass following the delivery schedule noted above. Additionally, laboratory findings reported after stimulation were negative for metastases.

[0202] Referring to FIG. 11C, a graph shows the third stimulation frequency band (f b3 =320kHz, f t3 11B , which illustrates a tissue impedance signal (34) corresponding to the tissue impedance response across channels 5 and 6 to a tissue stimulation frequency of about 320 kHz (=420 kHz), correlated in time to the intermediate stage of the individual's response between FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B . As shown in the graph, the tissue impedance signal (34) begins to show a dip at about 140 seconds, when the applied tissue stimulation frequency was about 320 kHz. This dip, or valley, continued until about 340 seconds, when the applied tissue stimulation frequency reached about 420 kHz.

[0203] It was observed that the aforementioned tissue impedance response valleys did not tend to be constrained to a specific frequency over the course of each application. Instead, a slight frequency shift in the tissue impedance response was observed, typically exhibiting a variation of ±20%. Over the course of the six-day delivery, the tissue impedance valleys tended to disappear.

[0204] FIG. 11D shows the smoothed tissue impedance response signal (35), which was obtained by averaging the tissue impedance response signal (34).

[0205] Definitions and Acronyms AM Amplitude Modulation AMOLED Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit CPLD Complex Programmable Logic Device DSC Digital Signal Controller EEG electroencephalogram EMF electromagnetic field f bxLower Tissue Stimulation Frequency: Refers to the lowest frequency of the stimulation band for frequency-scanning stimulation. f fe Final tissue stimulation frequency: refers to the final frequency of the frequency sweep stimulation by the electric field. f fm Final tissue stimulation frequency: refers to the final frequency of the frequency scan stimulation by the magnetic field. f ie Initial tissue stimulation frequency: refers to the starting frequency of frequency scanning stimulation by the electric field. f im Initial tissue stimulation frequency: refers to the starting frequency of frequency scanning stimulation by the magnetic field. FM Frequency Modulation FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array f tx Upper tissue stimulation frequency: refers to the final frequency of the frequency scan stimulation. HID Human Interface Device LCD Liquid Crystal Display LED Light Emitting Diode MFG Magnetic Field Generator The NT tolerance value is a percentage value of the reference level value, whereby the method determines whether or not the tissue impedance response exceeds said percentage value. bx or f tx Determine. OLED Organic Light Emitting Diode PEMF Pulsed Electromagnetic Field PM Phase Modulation PPM Pulse Position Modulation PSoC Programmable System-on-Chip PWM Pulse Width Modulation QD Quantum Display SoC System on Chip SPMF Programmed Magnetic Field Δf e Frequency Difference: refers to the stepwise increment or decrement in frequency of a frequency-scanning electric field stimulus. Δf m Frequency Difference: refers to the stepwise increment or decrement in frequency of a frequency-scanning magnetic field stimulus. Δt e Time Difference: refers to the duration or time period of frequency-scanning stimulation by an electric field. Δt m Time Difference: refers to the duration or time period of frequency scanning stimulation by a magnetic field. Reference Level refers to a value established by a user or computing unit to incrementally increase, fit or fix the tissue impedance response in an amplitude range value to be presented to a user or analyzed. Stimulation Frequency Band The range of frequencies over which the tissue impedance amplitude is below an acceptable value.

[0206] The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrative examples described, since variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the disclosure, as defined solely by the following claims, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0207] 1 Electromagnetic Transducer 1a Electromagnetic transducer 1a' Transducer 1b Transducer 1b' Transducer 1c Transducer 1c' Transducer 1d transducer 1d' transducer 1e Transducer 1e' Electromagnetic Transducer 1f Transducer 1f' Transducer 1g Transducer 1g' transducer 1h Transducer 1h' Transducer 1i Transducer 1i' Transducer 1j transducer 1j' Transducer 1k transducer 1k' transducer 1l transducer 1l' transducer 1m transducer 1m' transducer 1n transducer 1n' Transducer 2. Volume 3 organization 4 Frames 5 Channels 6 Channels 8 Modulated Signals 9 Carrier Signal 10 fixed period 21 Computing Units 21a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 21b First oscillator OSC 1 21c Second oscillator OSC 2 21d Oscillator OSC n 22 External power supply 23 Decoupling circuit 30 Feedback 31, 32, 33 Activation signal output 34 Tissue Impedance Signal

Claims

1. 1. A device for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, comprising: At least one processor; an external power source connected to the at least one processor; a decoupling circuit coupled to the external power source and to the at least one processor; an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers connected to the at least one processor and the decoupling circuit, the arrangement configured to be disposed on the tissue; and and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, the method comprising: a) applying an electrical field stimulation to tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving an activation signal, the frequency of which is an initial tissue stimulation frequency (f ｉｅ ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f ｆｅ ) until the time difference (Δt ｅ ) the frequency difference (Δf ｅ ) increment or decrement in steps; b) measuring a tissue impedance response to said stimulation of step (a); c) determining a reference level at the tissue impedance response measured in step (b); d) determining a tolerance (NT) for the reference level determined in step (c); e) determining a lower tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response falls below the NT determined in step (d). ｂｘ ) determining f) determining the upper tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response returns to the NT determined in step (d). ｔｘ ), wherein f ｔｘ is the above f ｂｘ where "x" is a natural number equal to or greater than 1; g) the f determined in step (f) ｔｘ and the f determined in step (e). ｂｘ determining a stimulation frequency band based on h) the Δt ｅ The Δf between ｅ applying an electric field stimulation to tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving activation signals whose frequency varies through the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g) in stepwise increments or decrements of i) Maximum stimulation time (t ｍａｘ ) and j) measuring the tissue impedance response to the electrical field stimulation of step (h); k) the tissue impedance response measured in step (j) for the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g) returns to the NT established in step (d) or ｍａｘ and verifying whether the threshold exceeds the threshold.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the NT is between about 25% and about 50%.

3. Said f ｉｅ and the Δf ｅ 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the frequency is between about 0.1 Hz and about 1000 kHz.

4. The Δf ｅ 2. The device of claim 1, wherein R is a value between about 0.1 Hz and about 1 kHz.

5. The Δt ｅ The device of claim 1 , wherein the time is between about 1 second and about 1 hour.

6. Step (k) consists in verifying that: - Said t ｍａｘ terminating application of the electrical field stimulation to the tissue when - Said t ｍａｘ and repeating step (h) if the tissue impedance response measured in step (j) is less than the NT determined in step (d); and - terminating application of electrical field stimulation to the tissue if the tissue impedance response measured in step (j) for the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g) exceeds the NT established in step (d).

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of oscillators coupled to said at least one processor, each of said plurality of oscillators having an activation signal output.

8. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is connected to peripheral devices selected from the group consisting of a memory unit, a database, a hard drive, a keyboard, a camera, a touch screen display, a scanner, a display and a printer.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement of electromagnetic transducers includes a plurality of electric field transducers and a plurality of magnetic field transducers.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of magnetic field transducers are arranged to generate a magnetic field that is orthogonal to an electric field generated by the plurality of electric field transducers.

11. In step (a), the method further includes applying a magnetic field stimulus to the tissue using an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers that receive an activation signal, the frequency of which is an initial tissue stimulation frequency (f ｉｍ ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f ｆｍ ) until the time difference (Δt ｍ ) the frequency difference (Δf ｍ 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the step increment or decrement of

12. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the electromagnetic transducer is configured to contact an outer surface of the tissue and a second portion of the electromagnetic transducer is configured to be positioned a determined distance from the outer surface of the tissue.

13. 1. A device for stimulating tissue with an electromagnetic field, comprising: At least one processor; an external power source connected to the at least one processor; a decoupling circuit coupled to the external power source and to the at least one processor; an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers connected to the at least one processor and the decoupling circuit, the arrangement configured to be disposed on the tissue; and and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method for stimulating tissue with a magnetic field, the method comprising: a') applying a magnetic field stimulus to the tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving an activation signal, the frequency of which is an initial tissue stimulation frequency (f ｉｍ ) to the final tissue stimulation frequency (f ｆｍ ) until the time difference (Δt ｍ ) the frequency difference (Δf ｍ ) increment or decrement in steps; b') measuring tissue impedance response to said magnetic field stimulation through a plurality of electric field transducers that are part of said arrangement of electromagnetic transducers; c') establishing a reference level at the tissue impedance response measured in step (b'); d') determining a tolerance (NT) for the reference level determined in step (c'); e') determining a lower tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response falls below the NT determined in step (d'). ｂｘ ) determining f') determining the upper tissue stimulation frequency (f) as the point at which the tissue impedance response returns to the NT determined in step (d'). ｔｘ ) determining g') the f determined in step (f') ｔｘ and the f determined in step (e'). ｂｘ determining a stimulation frequency band based on h') the Δt ｍ The Δf ｍ applying a magnetic field stimulus to tissue through an arrangement of electromagnetic transducers receiving activation signals whose frequency varies according to the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g') in stepwise increments or decrements of 1000 Hz; i') maximum stimulation time (t ｍａｘ ) and j') measuring said tissue impedance response to said magnetic field stimulation of step (h') using a plurality of said electric field transducers; k') the tissue impedance response measured in step (j') of the stimulation frequency band determined in step (g') returns to the NT established in step (d') or ｍａｘ and completing the step of verifying whether the number of iterations exceeds Said f ｔｘ is the above f ｂｘ A device, wherein "x" is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

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