Abstract: Methods and devices for the regulation of aggrecan gene expression in cartilage cells via the application of fields generated by specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals in the treatment of diseased or injured articular cartilage. By gene expression is meant the up regulation or down regulation of the process whereby specific portions (genes) of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA and subsequently translated into protein. Methods and devices are provided for the targeted treatment of injured or diseased cartilage tissue that include generating specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals that generate fields optimized for aggrecan gene expression and exposing cartilage tissue to the fields generated by specific and selective signals so as to regulate aggrecan gene expression in such cartilage tissue. The resulting methods and devices are useful for the targeted treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cartilage injury, and cartilage defects.

Abstract: A method for applying therapeutic electrical signals and/or electromagnetic fields to a patient's knee for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other diseases, defects and injuries. The device that is used is operable in several modes to deliver signals to the patients knee so as to cause an electric and/or electromagnetic field to be generated that selectively up-regulates gene expression of Aggrecan and Type II Collagen while simultaneously selectively down-regulating the gene expression of metalloproteases. The device includes a signal generator that generates compound electric signals including a 60 kHz sine wave having a peak to peak voltage of approximately 4.6 V to 7.6 V and a 100% duty cycle signal that is generated for approximately 30 minutes and a 50% duty cycle signal that is generated for approximately 1 hour after the 100% duty cycle signal.

Abstract: A method of determining the voltage and current required for the application of specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals to diseased articular cartilage in the treatment of osteoarthritis, cartilage defects due to trauma or sports injury, or used as an adjunct with other therapies (cell transplantation, tissue-engineered scaffold, growth factors, etc.) for treating cartilage defects in the human hip joint and a device for delivering such signals to a patient's hip. Anatomic, analytical, and planar circuit models are developed to determining the impedances, conductivities, and current flows in the human hip joint and its surrounding soft tissues and skin that are required to produce a 20 mV/cm electric field in the synovium and articular cartilage of the human hip. The voltage of the signal applied to the surface electrodes or to a coil(s) or solenoid is varied based on the size of the hip joint; larger hip joints require larger voltages to generate the effective electric field.

Abstract: A technique and associated device for stimulating multiple electrodes with multiple electrical signals in multiple regions of the spine without injury to the patient. The electrodes are applied to respective sides of the patient's spine, and a first electrical signal is applied to any electrodes in a treatment area of the lumbar region of the patient's spine, a second electrical signal is applied to any electrodes in a treatment area of the thoracic region of the patient's spine, and a third electrical signal is applied to any electrodes in a treatment area of the cervical region of the patient's spine to induce osteogenesis in at least one of the respective treated area's of the patient's spine. The first, second, and third electrical signals respectively generate different electrode currents in the respective treated areas and are ideally selected to create current densities that are approximately equal in respective treatment areas.

Abstract: A technique and device for preventing and/or treating osteoporosis, hip and spine fractures, and/or spine fusions by incorporating at least one conductive coil (110) into a garment (90) adapted to be worn adjacent to the patient's skin over a treatment area and applying an electrical signal to the coil effective to produce a magnetic flux the penetrates the treatment area so as to produce an electric field in the bones and the treatment area.

Abstract: A portable device for applying therapeutic electrical signals and/or electromagnetic fields to a patient's knee for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other diseases, defects and injuries. The device is operable in several modes to deliver signals to the patients knee so as to cause an electric and/or electromagnetic field to be generated that selectively up-regulates gene expression of Aggrecan and Type II Collagen while simultaneously selectively down-regulating the gene expression of metalloproteases. The device includes a signal generator that generates compound electric signals including a 60 kHz sine wave having a peak to peak voltage of approximately 4.6 V to 7.6 V and a 100% duty cycle signal that is generated for approximately 30 minutes and a 50% duty cycle signal that is generated for approximately 1 hour after the 100% duty cycle signal.

Abstract: A method of determining the voltage and current output required for the application of specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals to diseased articular cartilage in the treatment of osteoarthritis, cartilage defects due to trauma or sports injury, or used as an adjunct with other therapies (cell transplantation, tissue-engineered scaffolds, growth factors, etc.) for treating cartilage defects in the human knee joint and a device for delivering such signals to a patient's knee. An analytical model of the human knee is developed whereby the total tissue volume in the human knee may be determined for comparison to the total tissue volume of the diseased tissue in the animal model using electric field and current density histograms.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the regulation of type II collagen gene expression in cartilage cells via the application of specific and selective fields generated by specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals in the treatment of diseased or injured articular cartilage. By gene expression is meant the up regulation or down regulation of the process whereby specific portions (genes) of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA and subsequently translated into protein. Methods and devices are provided for the targeted treatment of injured or diseased cartilage tissue that include generating specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals that generate specific and selective fields optimized for type II collagen gene expression and exposing cartilage tissue to the specific and selective fields generated by specific and selective signals so as to regulate type II collagen gene expression in such cartilage tissue.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase gene expression in cartilage cells via the application of fields generated by specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals in the treatment of diseased or injured articular cartilage. By gene expression is meant the up-regulation or down-regulation of the process whereby specific portions (genes) of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA and subsequently translated into protein. Methods and devices are provided for the targeted treatment of injured or diseased cartilage tissue that include generating specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals that generate fields optimized for reduction of matrix metalloproteinase gene expression and exposing cartilage tissue to the fields generated by specific and selective signals so as to regulate matrix metalloproteinase gene expression in such cartilage tissue.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the regulation of type II collagen gene expression in cartilage cells via the application of specific and selective fields generated by specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals in the treatment of diseased or injured articular cartilage. By gene expression is meant the up regulation or down regulation of the process whereby specific portions (genes) of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA and subsequently translated into protein. Methods and devices are provided for the targeted treatment of injured or diseased cartilage tissue that include generating specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals that generate specific and selective fields optimized for type II collagen gene expression and exposing cartilage tissue to the specific and selective fields generated by specific and selective signals so as to regulate type II collagen gene expression in such cartilage tissue.

Abstract: A method of determining the voltage and current output required for the application of specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals to diseased articular cartilage in the treatment of osteoarthritis, cartilage defects due to trauma or sports injury, or used as an adjunct with other therapies (cell transplantation, tissue-engineered scaffolds, growth factors, etc.) for treating cartilage defects in the human knee joint and a device for delivering such signals to a patient's knee. An analytical model of the human knee is developed whereby the total tissue volume in the human knee may be determined for comparison to the total tissue volume of the diseased tissue in the animal model using electric field and current density histograms.

Abstract: Methods and devices (10) for the regulation of gene expression by cells via the application of specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals so as to target diseased or injured tissue for treatment. Gene expression is the up regulation or down regulation of the process whereby specific portions, genes of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA and subsequently translated into protein.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the regulation of aggrecan gene expression in cartilage cells via the application of fields generated by specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals in the treatment of diseased or injured articular cartilage. By gene expression is meant the up regulation or down regulation of the process whereby specific portions (genes) of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA and subsequently translated into protein. Methods and devices are provided for the targeted treatment of injured or diseased cartilage tissue that include generating specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals that generate fields optimized for aggrecan gene expression and exposing cartilage tissue to the fields generated by specific and selective signals so as to regulate aggrecan gene expression in such cartilage tissue. The resulting methods and devices are useful for the targeted treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cartilage injury, and cartilage defects.

Abstract: A non-invasive, portable electromagnetic therapeutic method and apparatus for promoting the healing of damaged or diseased living tissue including fractured bone and in particular nonunion or delayed union bone fractures are described. The method and apparatus involve generating a signal having a series of substantially symmetric voltage cycles of bursted pulses having narrow pulse widths on the order of 0.5 to 20 microseconds and converting the signal into an electromagnetic field which extends into an area for desired tissue healing. The portable noninvasive apparatus can be readily worn or carried by a patient and is capable of generating an energy-efficient symmetrical signal coacting with a coil for transducing the signal into electromagnetic pulses.

Abstract: Disclosed is an implantable bone growth stimulator which needs no internal battery or large buffer capacitor. A receiving coil in a preferred embodiment, a ferrite core coil, receives RF energy from a transmitter external to the patient. The received RF energy is voltage doubled and rectified and provided to a constant current generator which in turn supplies a constant amount of current between implanted cathodes and an implanted anode. In preferred embodiments, the receiving coil, power supply, and cathodes are one unit which is located in place on an internal fixation device attached to the bones near the fracture site. In another embodiment, only the cathodes are located in the vicinity of the fracture site and the receiver coil voltage multiplier circuit and constant current source are located remote from the fracture site.

Abstract: Bone fractures previously considered incurable are healed non-invasively by applying to electrodes coupled to the skin of a living body in the vicinity of a bone fracture an alternating voltage having a wave form that is symmetrical with respect to the axis, a frequency in the range 20-100 KHz and a value in the range from about 2 to 10 volts peak to peak.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved bone-piercing cathode for providing electrical stimulation of osteogenesis at a plurality of locations. A conventional bone-piercing cathode is modified by adding a number of "ports" extending through the insulative covering to expose the cathode permitting a flow of osteogenesis stimulating current therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, seven ports are spaced three on one side and four on the other of a conventional bone-piercing cathode which is inserted into the fracture site. Sufficient current is supplied to the cathode in order to insure that each port as well as the insulation-bare wire junction can supply 20 microamperes of osteogenesis stimulating current into the body tissues. This permits bone growth stimulation adjacent a plurality of sites on the cathode.

Abstract: Cell development in articular chondrocytes is enhanced by subjecting them to an alternating current field having a frequency of about 60/khz and a current density in the order of 30-40 .mu.amps/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: Epiphyseal growth plate stimulation in the bone of a living body is achieved by applying electrodes non-invasively to a body and supplying to said electrodes an AC signal in the range of about 2.5 to 15 volts peak-to-peak at a frequency of about 20-100 KHz.

Abstract: Osteoporosis in a living body prevented and/or treated by applying electrodes non-invasively to a body and supplying to the electrodes an AC signal of about 5-15 volts peak-to-peak at a frequency of about 20-100 KHz to cause a treatment current to flow in a body region affected or likely to be affected by osteoporosis.