US4467808A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for preventing and treating osteoporosis in a living body by using electrical stimulation non-invasively
Assignee: University of Pennsylvania
•
Filing: 1982-09-17
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Granted: 1984-08-28
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Expires: 2002-09-17
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl T. Brighton
- 👤 Solomon R. Pollack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A non-invasive method of preventing and/or treating osteoporosis in bone in a living body comprising: applying electrodes to a treatment area on a body and supplying to said electrodes an alternating current stimulation signal in the ultrasonic frequency range of about 20 to 100 KHz to cause a current to flow in a body region affected by osteoporosis to thereby inhibit rarefication of bone mass.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A non-invasive method of preventing and/or treating osteoporosis in bone in a living body comprising: applying electrodes to a treatment area on a body and supplying to said electrodes an alternating current stimulation signal in the ultrasonic frequency range of about 20 to 100 KHz to cause a current to flow in a body region affected by osteoporosis to thereby inhibit rarefication of bone mass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peak-to-peak voltage amplitude of the generated signal is within the range of about 5 to 10 volts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peak-to-peak voltage amplitude of the generated signal is about 10 volts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frequency of the generated signal is about 60 KHz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the electrodes are bare metal electrodes in direct contact with the skin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stimulation signal is a symmetrical sine wave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stimulation signal is applied to the body substantially continuously.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A non-invasive method of preventing or treating osteoporosis in a living body comprising: applying electrodes to a treatment area of the body and supplying to the electrodes an alternating current stimulation signal having a generally symmetrical sine waveform and an amplitude of about 10 volts peak-to-peak at a frequency of about 60 KHz to cause a current to flow substantially continuously in a body region affected or likely to be affected by osteoporosis to thereby inhibit rarefication of bone mass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
A non-invasive method of preventing or treating osteoporosis in a living body comprising: applying electrodes to a treatment area of the body and supplying to the electrodes an alternating current stimulation signal having a generally symmetrical sine waveform and an amplitude of about 10 volts peak-to-peak at a frequency of about 60 KHz to cause a current to flow substantially continuously in a body region affected or likely to be affected by osteoporosis to thereby inhibit rarefication of bone mass.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-08-28 | 1988-02-27 | 1988-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-08-28 | 1992-02-27 | 1992-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-08-28 | 1996-02-27 | 1996-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |