Planar Microcoil Arrays in Wearable PEMF Clothing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) devices for treating medical conditions suffer from low patient compliance due to bulkiness, non-homogeneous magnetic field distribution, difficulty in treating extensive areas, and lack of specificity to body parts, leading to suboptimal therapy and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device integrating arrays of planar microcoils into clothing, such as shirts, socks, and gloves, with a controller that generates a time-varying current to produce a homogeneous magnetic field, allowing for targeted therapy and extended treatment periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional PEMF devices use large cylindrically shaped coils, then therapeutic magnetic field strength is achieved, but device bulkiness increases and patient compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the conventional large coil into multiple smaller planar microcoils arranged in arrays. Each microcoil generates a localized magnetic field, and collectively they provide comprehensive coverage. This segmentation allows the device to be integrated into wearable clothing rather than requiring bulky mats or straps, significantly improving patient compliance while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional cylindrically shaped coils to two-dimensional planar microcoils. This dimensional change enables the coils to be flat and flexible, allowing integration into clothing that conforms to body contours. The planar configuration eliminates the bulkiness of conventional coils while preserving the ability to generate therapeutic magnetic fields.
2Power
If conventional PEMF devices use large coils, then magnetic field generation is achieved, but magnetic field distribution becomes non-homogeneous across body surface areas
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the magnetic field generation into multiple distributed planar microcoils, the patent achieves homogeneous field distribution. Each microcoil contributes to the overall field, and their collective arrangement ensures uniform coverage across the body surface area, eliminating the non-homogeneous distribution problem of single large coils.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different microcoil configurations to different body regions based on specific therapeutic needs. Each local area receives optimized magnetic field treatment through appropriately positioned and configured microcoils, ensuring homogeneous and effective therapy across the entire body surface.
3Area of stationary object
If conventional PEMF devices are designed for extensive body coverage, then treatment area increases, but device complexity and difficulty of use increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal PEMF system where a single set of planar microcoils integrated into clothing can treat multiple body regions and various medical conditions. The system is multi-functional, providing comprehensive body coverage without requiring separate devices for different areas, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining extensive treatment capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The wearable PEMF device enhances patient compliance by providing a comfortable, efficient, and predictable therapeutic experience, ensuring consistent exposure to therapeutic magnetic fields across large surface areas, effectively treating a range of disorders including chronic pain, neuropathies, and neurodegenerative conditions.
Implementation Method 1
applying a time-varying current to the plurality of planar microcoil arrays to generate a pulsed electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
when low frequency pulses pass through the skin and penetrate into muscle, nerves, bone and/or tendons
Data Source
AI summary
The present specification discloses a pulsed electromagnetic field system having planar microcoil arrays integrated into clothing. Each of the planar microcoil arrays has two or more planar microcoils positioned on a flexible substrate. The planar microcoil arrays are connected to a controller configured to generate an electrical current and transmit that electrical current, in accordance with a particular stimulation protocol, to each of the planar microcoil arrays.