Method for non-invasive electrical stimulation of epiphyseal plate growth

Claim 2

A non-invasive method of stimulating growth in the epiphyseal plate in the bone of a living body comprising: applying electrodes to the body of a subject in the vicinity of the epiphyseal growth plate of a bone; and supplying to said electrodes an alternating current stimulation signal in the ultrasonic frequency range of about 20 to 100 KHz for a sufficient period of time to effect an increase in the growth of said bone as compared with any bone growth that would occur naturally.

Claim 3

The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peak-to-peak voltage amplitude of the signal supplied to the electrodes is within the range of about 2.5 to 15 volts.

Claim 4

The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peak-to-peak voltage amplitude of the signal supplied to the electrodes is within the range of about 5 to 10 volts.

Claim 5

The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frequency of the signal supplied to the electrodes is about 60 KHz.

Claim 6

The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the electrodes are bare metal electrodes in direct contact with the skin of the subject.

Claim 7

The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein a conductive gel is applied to the skin of the subject beneath the electrodes.

Claim 8

The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stimulation signal has a symmetrical sine waveform.

Claim 9

The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stimulation signal is applied to the body substantially continuously.

Claim 10

A non-invasive method of stimulating growth in the epiphyseal plate in the bone of a living body comprising: applying two bare electrodes to the body of a subject in the vicinity of the epiphyseal growth plate of a bone; and supplying to said electrodes an alternating current stimulation signal having a generally symmetrical sine waveform with a voltage amplitude within the range of about 5 to 10 volts peak-to-peak and a frequency of about 60 KHz for a sufficient period of time to effect an increase in the growth of said bone as compared with any bone growth that would occur naturally.

Claim 11

A non-invasive method of stimulating growth in the epiphyseal plate in the bone of a living body comprising: applying two bare electrodes to the body of a subject in the vicinity of the epiphyseal growth plate of a bone; and supplying to said electrodes an alternating current stimulation signal having a generally symmetrical sine waveform with a voltage amplitude within the range of about 5 to 10 volts peak-to-peak and a frequency of about 60 KHz for a sufficient period of time to effect an increase in the growth of said bone as compared with any bone growth that would occur naturally.