Abstract:
An apparatus and method for micro-exercise apply piezoelectric stress to cells of a bone mass by inducing voltages in the bone mass. Application of dynamic, electromagnetic fields passing through the conductive bone mass induce currents and voltages locally in and around cells or groups of cells. The cells respond to the combination of mechanical stress and strain by building themselves up as they would if they had been subjected to the stress and strain of conventional exercise. Thus, micro-exercise at a cellular level of the bone mass can be stimulated as if the stress and strain had been applied to the entire bone structure of which the smaller cellular portions are constituent parts. In combination with casts or splints, the sources of electromagnetic flux may be embedded in the frame or solid structure, the protective padding added for comfort, or both.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/502,998, filed Jul. 14, 2009 and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. The Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to reduction in bone mass associated with inactivity, such as occurs whenever a limb is immobilized by a cast for an extended period of time, and more particularly to apparatus and methods to promote exercise on a cellular level when actual exercise motion by the limb is not available. 
     2. The Background Art 
     Bones represent a curious structure, often referred to in the prior art as “not well understood.” In space, such as during missions to the moon, extended orbits, work within the space station, during healing of a broken bone immobilized in a cast for typically six weeks or more, and the like, science has studied the loss of bone mass. The lack of exercise appears to relate to the loss of bone mass. 
     Moreover, bone mass may be lost at a greater rate in the absence of exercise then it can typically be regained upon resumption of exercise. Thus, what is needed is an apparatus and method to apply exercise to a bone structure that is immobilized as a result of casting, traction, immobilization, or the like. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may include a frame forming a basic structure of a device such as a removable cast or splint. The frame may or may not include a wrap. Typically, a wrap may be provided for warmth, comfort through isolation of the frame from the injured member, or the like. The frame, the wrap, or both may include embedded electromagnetic coils. The electromagnetic coils may be programmatically controlled to energize with a timing and sequence selected to render treatment effective and to minimize cancellation of electromagnetic fields created by the coils. 
     The embedded coils may operate to set up dynamic electromagnetic fields. Dynamic electromagnetic fields create electrical currents as a result of passing through conductors or around conductors. Various equations of physics define the electromagnetic activities of a magnetic flux as it rises and falls in density with respect to time. For example, motors of the electrical type operate on the responses of moving parts to the changing of electromagnetic fields within them. Meanwhile, those electromagnetic fields are set up by electrical currents operating in coils within those motors. 
     By the same token, moving an electromagnetic fields with respect to conductors or moving conductors through electromagnetic fields induces currents in conductors. 
     Accordingly, in certain embodiments of apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention, electromagnetic fields as they rise and fall in intensity in a localized area may induce currents within bone materials. Bone material is piezoelectric. Capitalizing on the piezoelectric nature of the structural material of bone, an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may induce voltages across portions of bone material as a result of the rising and falling of electromagnetic force applied dynamically. That is, as the flux density of the electromagnetic coils rises and falls, it creates electrical currents and voltages in conductive materials nearby. 
     In certain embodiments of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, the induced voltages and currents operate on the piezoelectric cellular structures of bone matter to stress the bone. Literally, the bone material distorts with the presence of the applied voltage. Thus, at a very low level, bone material may be stressed and strained, that is, loaded with force or pressure and stretched or compressed accordingly, with the application of electrical voltage. 
     When bones are exercised, just as muscles are exercised, the forces or loads applied thereto stretch or compress the affected tissue. The contraction of muscles is well appreciated. Likewise, muscles may extend or contract as they operate to move bone structures within the body. It is not as well understood that any time the supposedly “fixed” length of a bone is put under load, that bone stretches, compresses, bends, or a combination thereof in some slight amount compared to the much greater amount of such deflection or distortion by a muscle. 
     The need to exercise muscles is well understood. However, the need to exercise bones is less well understood, and perhaps not understood by many who readily accept the need for muscle exercise. Thus, one may think of conventional exercise as including a process of stressing the bones in a way that causes them to stretch, compress, bend, or a combination thereof. Bones appear to respond to exercise by building mass. When bones are immobilized, an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may still create at a cellular or microscopic level the conditions that exercise would have created. A lack of exercise corresponds to a lack of piezoelectric activity in the bone. 
     As bones distort, they behave piezoelectrically. Just as an electrical voltage applied to a piece of bone causes a distortion in that piece of bone, imperceptible to the eye, but perceptible by various measurement techniques, the reverse process also works. For example, if a voltage applied to a piezoelectric material distorts the piezoelectric material, then distortion of the piezoelectric material will create a voltage across it. 
     For example, if walking about on the earth creates healthy bones, and if exercise tends to build bone mass, while a lack of exercise tends to lose bone mass, an individual cell may be seen as a tiny embedded element within that bone structure. As far as that cell is concerned, it does not know about the foot running on the ground, or the arm lifting weights. Rather, that small cell of bone only responds to the stress and strain it undergoes. 
     In response to that stress and strain, and the piezoelectric signals of electricity generated as a result of the stress and strain on that cell of bone, the bone responds. The bone responds to exercise by developing bone mass. Therefore, the bone mass decreases when a bone is cast for healing, such as a broken arm or broken leg. Likewise, in space, where bones are not required to maintain the support structure of the body mass of an individual against gravity, they do not see the common, daily, continual stress and strain of simply living. 
     Thus, loss of bone mass may be attributed in large part to a lack of exercise. This appears to also be corroborated by the correlations between osteoporosis and exercise. As people become immobile, they tend to increase the porosity of bone and decrease its mass. 
     Accordingly, an apparatus in accordance with the invention provides piezoelectric, micro-exercise for bone structures replicating the conditions that would typically exist if that bone mass were able to be exercised conventionally. 
     In certain apparatus, the frame and the covering pad may both include magnetic coils. Energizing the coils in the frame, in the pad, or both may occur alone, separately, or in a coordinated fashion. 
     Meanwhile, a controller may control the energizing of electromagnetic coils in the pad, in the frame, or both. The controller may be programmed by a physician to input a particular piezoelectric exercise regimen proposed. In certain embodiments, an individual may be able to program a controller controlling the energizing of coils in the padding or frame according to how the user is feeling. 
     Coils may be installed in various locations and selectively activated according to a desired effect. For example, in certain embodiments, the coils may be placed in the bed of a sole of a boot cast. Likewise, coils may be placed along the vertical uprights in the cast. Coils may be placed in other strategic locations according to the desired process and effect implemented. 
     In certain embodiments, coils may be sequenced in a series of overlapping rising and magnetic fields in a particular area. In other embodiments, coils may be sequenced in a manner that provides that the magnetic field from one coil may be completely collapsed before the magnetic field on the other arises. Thus, interaction between coils may be minimized. 
     For example, in a transformer, a “bucking” arrangement may be set up in which two transformers are basically transforming against one another. The result is a generation of heat, expenditure of energy, but no net energy is really transferred across systems. Thus, in certain embodiments, the programmatic controls of the controller may assure that within a reasonable proximity of one another, various coils are not energized and de-energized at a rate and proximity that will negate the influence of one coil by another. This makes energy conservation sense as well as therapeutic sense in that the magnetic field is permitted to penetrate as far as possible and act alone or in concert, rather than against other magnetic fields set up by other coils. 
     In other methods and apparatus in accordance with the invention, coils may be designed to have various diameters, numbers of turns, air cores, or electromagnetic cores according to the desire for direction and intensity of magnetic field. For example, that flux density in a magnetic core may provide much better alignment and penetration. 
     It has also been suggested that bone response to electromagnetic stimulation is ineffectual after about thirty minutes of treatment. This is consistent with other experiments and experiences with nutrition. The body must deliver energy, and depends on the catalytic minerals in the cells to provide the energy release required to support cell activity. 
     Meanwhile, the body relies on various chemical transport processes to carry away waste by-products, the chemical reactants resulting from energy generation by cells. Those reactants are often rich in reactive materials or “free radicals.” Anti-oxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent them from causing other chemical damage to cells as they are transported through the cells and away to the body&#39;s waste handling systems. Thus, minerals catalyze the chemical breakdown of energy materials, while anti-oxidants neutralize the by-products of energy released in the cells. 
     Similarly, whenever any process overruns or outruns other bodily processes, the overall system cannot operate any faster than its slowest intermediate process. In any chemical reaction, it is typical that several chemical reactions are actually taking place. The overall system of chemical reactions can proceed no faster than the rate-limiting reaction that every other reaction is waiting on. 
     Thus, in apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, rather than apply therapy in every case a single time everyday, shorter periods of therapy may be applied at intervals extended throughout the day. Thus, the other bodily processes can keep up with the bone stimulation in order to provide a balanced building process. 
     In certain embodiments, a duty cycle for an apparatus in accordance with the invention may involve the system being on for one minute and off for 59. In other embodiments, the apparatus may be on for 10 minutes and off for 50 minutes every hour. Meanwhile, the individual coils in the apparatus may be on for only a very small fraction of the duty cycle, inasmuch as the coils are activated in sequence. In some embodiments, the duty cycle is from about 0.003 to about 0.08. In other embodiments, the duty cycle is from about 0.003 to about 0.1. 
     In certain embodiments, the prescribed system of electromagnetic activity from the coils of the frame, covering, or both, may be tracked and correlated with x-rays in order to show the response of a particular area of bone mass to an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention. Thus, the use of periodic x-rays in assessing the bone density of an immobilized limb may be used to alter the regimen prescribed, and may be used to complete the regimen in body one location, while continuing it in another in order to provide a uniform development of bone mass. 
     In certain embodiments, an integrated dressing may be used having electromagnetic coils operated by the system in accordance with the invention. Thus, a dressing, a frame, a covering or wrap for the member may each be used individually, or any combination thereof may be used in order to provide electromagnetic flux densities required and the dynamic rising and falling thereof in order to provide the bone density management or intervention required. 
     In certain embodiments of an apparatus in accordance with the invention, a wear layer or witness layer may be provided on the foot bed or sole of a boot cast. For example, removable boot casts provide a foot bed similar to a shoe. A wear layer may be provided such as a two-layer lamination having a comparatively easily worn off top layer of one color with a more robust substrate therebelow. Thus, if an individual walks prematurely on the boot cast, then the witness layer may show the contrasting color of the substrate through a ruptured or worn off outer portion, thus providing an absolute verification that the foot has been pressuring, wearing, or otherwise active on the foot bed. 
     In certain embodiments, comparatively flat coils may be embedded in wraps (coverings), structures of a frame, such as the foot bed, vertical uprights, collars, straps, and the like in order to provide penetration normal (perpendicular) to the surfaces about which those portions of the apparatus lie. Thus, electromagnetic flux may be directed into the bodily member for which bone density intervention is desired. In other embodiments, the coils may be aligned in order to provide a flux that flows parallel to the surface, and thus at a greater distance eventually curves in to and travels axially along the subject member being treated. Nevertheless, a particularly effective and lightweight system may be made very flexible by a large distribution of small coils embedded within a covering, frame member or the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a boot cast having a system of vertical uprights with an attached bracket secured to the uprights and the foot bed of the boot cast in order to support a controller and power pack; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear quarter perspective view of an apparatus in accordance to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a right side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front quarter perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front quarter perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom quarter perspective view from a rear quarter of the apparatus of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a right side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a rear elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a left side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a rear upper quarter perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a rear quarter perspective view with the controller remove from the battery pack portion of the apparatus of  FIGS. 10-17 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a front perspective exploded view of the apparatus of  FIG. 19 , in an upside down configuration in order to show the bottom plate and battery packs as well as connectors; 
         FIG. 22  is a side quarter perspective exploded view of the controller of the apparatus of  FIG. 19 , as implemented in the apparatus of  FIGS. 10-17 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a chart of voltage with respect to time to illustrate a reduced duty cycle in the electromagnetic coils in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 24  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a wrap having a series of coils sequenced along extent thereof; 
         FIG. 25  is a table of testing results illustrating an array of voltages at various frequencies and duty cycles with the effective magnetic density in microTeslas and the corresponding currents running in the various coils; 
         FIG. 26  is a schematic diagram illustrating the current direction for the wires of a coil with the corresponding direction of the magnetic field generated thereby; 
         FIG. 27  is a schematic diagram illustrating the current direction in a conductor with the resulting direction of the magnetic field induced thereby; 
         FIG. 28  is a chart illustrating a series of experiments indicating a series of voltages with the frequency and duty cycle corresponding thereto in the x, y, and z axis for a particular embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 29  is a table of magnetic flux densities for a particular set of voltages and resulting current amperages for a 150 Hertz cycling of an apparatus in accordance with the invention operating on a 10 percent duty cycle; 
         FIG. 30  is a table of magnetic flux densities for a particular set of voltages and resulting current amperages for a 500 Hertz cycling of an apparatus in accordance with the invention operating on a 5 percent duty cycle; 
         FIG. 31  is a table of magnetic flux densities for a particular set of voltages and resulting current amperages for a 500 Hertz cycling of an apparatus in accordance with the invention operating on a 10 percent duty cycle; 
         FIG. 32  is a table of magnetic flux densities for a particular set of voltages and resulting current amperages for a 200 hertz cycling of an apparatus in accordance with the invention operating on a 5 percent duty cycle; 
         FIG. 33  is an exploded view of one embodiment of a wrap or pad material for use in an assembly in accordance with the invention, illustrating covering layers, enclosing or capturing a layer holding embedded electromagnets therein; 
         FIG. 34  is a partial, cutaway, perspective view of one embodiment of the inner mat from the apparatus of  FIG. 33 ; 
         FIG. 35A  is a perspective, exploded view of one embodiment of an electromagnet for use in an apparatus in accordance with the invention such as the mat of  FIGS. 33-34 ; 
         FIG. 35B  is a perspective view of the assembled electromagnetic coil with optional magnetic core shown for the apparatus of  FIG. 35A ; 
         FIG. 36  is a top plan view of one embodiment of a mat, such as the mat of  FIG. 34 , embedded within the wrap or covering of the apparatus of  FIG. 33 ; 
         FIG. 37  is an alternative embodiment of the mat of  FIGS. 33 and 36  in which the coils may be captured on spools or spindles rather then embedded within a mat, and the core regions may still be provided with metallic centers, or may simply rely on air cores; 
         FIG. 38  is an illustration of an alternative embodiment for embedding coils within a synthetic material or a natural material by bonding directly a covering material around the coil, thus capturing the coil in a sandwich of material, which may be bonded by a separate adhesive or by a thermal bond, such as between two layers of synthetic (polymeric) material melted by heat, or the like, and may include nonwoven fabric as the underlying material, the bonded capturing material, or both; 
         FIG. 39  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a wrap for use in a removable boot cast, and illustrating a plurality of coils embedded within the wrap; 
         FIG. 40  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a wrap suitable for an arm, and adaptable for use in a splint or removable cast frame, or even included within a cast or the outside of a cast in order to provide the coils in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 41  is a plan view of the wrap or cover of  FIG. 40  unwrapped and showing the removable hook and loop fastener or other fastener material; 
         FIG. 42  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a wrap suitable for a boot cast in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 43  is a plan view of an unwrapped cover or wrap of  FIG. 42  as it may appear before being assembled around a foot; 
         FIG. 44  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a wrist wrap and provided with a penetration for a thumb of a user; 
         FIG. 45  is a plan view of the wrap of  FIG. 44  illustrating the fastener strip and the aperture for a hand; 
         FIG. 46  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a wrap in accordance with the invention suitable for use as a neck collar; 
         FIG. 47  is a perspective view of wrap in accordance with the invention configured around the outside of a spacing block, such as may be used for maintaining spacing between injured legs; 
         FIG. 48  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a wrap in accordance with the invention for wrapping around a member having a substantially constant cross-section; 
         FIG. 49  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a wrap in accordance with the invention suitable for wrapping around a tapered member, such as a lower calf, a wrist, or forearm, or the like in which the bodily member has a substantial reduction in cross-section from one end to the other; 
         FIG. 50  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an alternative power pack associated with a wrap in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 51  is a plan view of one embodiment of a dressing having multiple coils provided power through a connector at one end of the dressing; 
         FIG. 52  is an exploded view of a dressing of  FIG. 51  illustrating multiple layers for providing the fundamental dressing needs of a wound while applying the electromagnetic coils for remediation of the underlying bone structures, but may be used also to influence the tissue rebuilding, using power from a battery pack such as that of  FIG. 50 , or the illustrated battery in  FIG. 52 ; 
         FIG. 53  is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a system for providing programmatic control of an apparatus in accordance with the invention, including both a connector for interfacing with a programming system such as a computer or the like, as well as connectors, which are optional, and may be temporary, permanent, or absent for connecting to the unit to be powered and to a source of power. 
         FIG. 54  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a controller for remotely controlling an apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 55  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 54 ; 
         FIG. 56  is a right side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 54 ; 
         FIG. 57  is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 54 ; 
         FIG. 58  is an end elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 54 ; 
         FIG. 59  is an opposite end elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 54  showing the connection port for connecting to the system of  FIG. 53  for programming the controller; 
         FIG. 60  is a rear elevation view of one embodiment of a removable boot cast in accordance with the invention and providing a gripping loop as part of the structure; 
         FIG. 61  is a cutaway perspective view of one alternative embodiment of a portion of the frame of a boot cast in accordance with the invention and illustrating a detector to detect motion or force by a wearer, by compromising a witness layer on top or bottom of the foot bed or by a pedometer detecting motion or force; and 
         FIG. 62  is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 61 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus  10 , such as a boot cast or the frame of a boot cast, may include a base  12 . In certain embodiments, the base  12  may be made of plastic or another suitable polymer or reinforced polymer. For example, when the apparatus  10  is a boot cast, the base  12  or portion thereof may serve as the foot bed on which the foot of a user will ultimately rest. Likewise, the base  12  also may serve as the fundamental structure that contacts the ground when the boot cast apparatus  10  is used in a walking configuration. 
     In certain circumstances, an individual may be provided with a cast, splint, or other similar apparatus  10  for immobilizing a bodily member. At some point, the apparatus  10  may be converted and used to actually support limited mobility (e.g., be walked upon) as the injured member has achieved a degree of healing that will permit some partial use. 
     In certain embodiments, struts  14  or uprights  14  may extend from the base  12 . Typically, the struts  14  may be fixed with respect to the base  12  in order to rigidize the injured member. In certain embodiments, the struts  14  may be flexibly connected to the base  12 . 
     In certain embodiments, a rack  16  may secure to the struts  14 . Typically, the rack  16  may serve multiple functions. For example, the rack  16  may serve to support auxiliary equipment for operating the apparatus  10  in accordance with the invention. Batteries, controllers  22  and the like may be mounted to the rack  16  away from the struts in the base  12  that are therapeutically operative for rigidizing the bodily member. 
     By the same token, the rack  16  may also serve to provide additional strength, rigidity, or stiffness to the struts  14 . Thus, with the addition of the rack  16 , the struts  14  may be downgraded in their structural stiffness or strength. However, in alternative embodiments, the struts  14  may be constructed to perform their function entirely alone, and the rack  16  may be added for a secondary function such as carrying auxiliary equipment. 
     Certain embodiments may include a pad  18  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ; refer to  FIGS. 33-48  generally, et. seq.) or wrap  18 . The pad  18 , or wrap  18  as it may also be referred to, provides multiple functions. At a basic physical level, the pad  18  provides stress distribution against prominent parts of the bodily member and pressure relief against the loading of skin and muscle by the presence of the base  12  or struts  14 , and the like. 
     At another level, the pad  18  may operate as a holder, distributor, and locator for multiple electromagnetic coils in the apparatus  10  in order to apply electromagnetic flux to various portions of the bodily member. Thus, instead of, or in addition to, the electromagnetic coils located in the struts  14  and rack  16 , the pad  18  may include electromagnetic coils developed for electromagnetic portions of therapies applied to the bones of the immobilized member placed inside the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 1-9 , and more generally to  FIGS. 1-22 , the apparatus  10  may include various sources  20 . Typically, the sources  20  are electromagnetic force coils or coils of conductors providing electromagnetic fields as a result of electric current passing through the conductors of the coils. The sources  20  of electromagnetic flux may be distributed about the base  12  and struts  14  of the frame of the apparatus  10 . Likewise, the sources  20  may be distributed throughout the pad  18 . 
     In certain embodiments contemplated, a controller  22  operates to control one or more of the current, the wave form of the current, the voltage, the time of operation, any combination thereof, and so forth for the sources  20  distributed in the pad  18 , the rack  16  or frame  16  made up with the base  12  and strut  14  as the structural elements of the apparatus  10 . 
     In general, the base  12  may include a bed  24  or foot bed  24  on which the foot of a user is supported. The bed  24  may be formed of a solid, of a porous solid, of a ribbed solid, including ribs  26  stiffening the base  12  and bed  24  while minimizing weight, or the like. Thus, an expanded polymer, a ribbed polymeric molding, or the like may form a bed  24  having ribs  26  to add stiffness while minimizing weight a user must lift. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a wall  28  may substantially surround the bed  24 , protecting against incursion by dirt, water, debris, and the like. 
     Meanwhile, the wall  28  forms an outermost edge, rib, or stiffener, ultimately providing additional section modulus for the bed  24  and base  12 . For example, the wall  28  may extend substantially higher than the ribs  26 , inasmuch as the foot of a user, in the illustrated embodiment, may fit down between the walls  28 , on either side of the base  12 . 
     Padding, a witness layer, or other treatments may be placed on top of the ribs  26  of the foot bed  24  or bed  24 . A witness layer or surface may be configured to detect pressure, wear, or other time-inappropriate use by a user. For example, a thin layer of material that is easily damaged may be placed on top of a more robust layer such as a foam pad or solid layer of material on the ribs  26 . Thus, any pressure, or any significant wear may be detected by damage to the thin uppermost, fragile, witness layer, signifying that a user has walked on the apparatus  10  or otherwise applied weight to the base  12  and bed  24  that is inappropriate at the particular time according to the prescription of medical personnel. A witness layer may be on the bottom of the sole  30  instead of or in addition to a witness layer on the foot bed  24 . 
     A base  12  may be provided with a sole  30  for actually accepting the pressure and wear of use on a walking surface. For example, in a regimen assigned to a person having a broken leg, an individual may be prohibited from weighting the bed  24  and base  12  of the apparatus  10  for a period of weeks. Thereafter, however, the individual may be prescribed certain weighting of the apparatus  10 , such as by a light weight placed thereon while the user walks on crutches. Ultimately, the individual may be instructed to place full weight on the foot, and consequently on the ribs  26  and base  12 , in order to resume walking and other conventional exercise. As an individual begins to walk on the base  12 , a sole comparatively softer and more flexible  30  may protect against undue wear on the more rigid parts of the base  12 , while also providing a certain amount of cushioning against the hard and abrasive materials of a sidewalk or street. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1-22 , the base  12  may be provided with loops  32  or other securement devices  32  such as rivets, screws, apertures, glue, hook-end-loop fasteners, or the like in order to secure straps thereto. Loops  32  may extend vertically up or horizontally out from the top edges of the wall  28 . Loops  32  may be hinged or rigid. 
     Typically, straps passing through the loops  32  on either side or either wall  28  on the left and right sides of the apparatus  10  may secure the apparatus  10  to an appendage of a user. Likewise, inasmuch as the apparatus  10  is typically a removable device  10  in the illustrated embodiment, straps through the loops  32  may provide securement of the apparatus  10  to an appendage at a comfortable level of snugness (e.g., tension, and thus pressure). 
     For example, a pad  18  may surround a foot on the bed  24  and underneath straps passing through the loops  32 . Accordingly, a user may secure the straps through the loops  32  at a tension calculated to provide a degree of securement, balanced with a degree of comfort in view of the pad  18  about the foot of a user. 
     A series of fasteners  34  may secure a rack  16  to the base  12  and struts  14 . Typical fasteners may include screws, bolts, glue, ultrasonic welding, or the like. Typically, fasteners  34  may be arranged in sufficient number to provide a substantially rigid connection between the rack  16  and the struts  14  and base  12 . Fasteners  34  may be configured as a design element. 
     In alternative embodiments, some degree of flexibility may be desired. Accordingly, movable or pivotable fasteners  34  may be used as pivot points. In alternative embodiments, flexible fasteners  34  providing pivoting may be implemented. However, in one common embodiment, the fasteners  34  may triangulate and thereby rigidize the rack  16  with respect to the base  12 , the strut  14 , and both. Likewise, fasteners  34  may fix the struts  14  with respect to the base  12 . 
     In certain embodiments, the rack  16  may be configured as a bracket  16  for mounting the controller  22 . For example, a top portion  36  of the bracket  16  may be mounted by fasteners  34  to the struts  14 . Meanwhile, a lower portion  38  or bottom portion  38  of the bracket  16  or rack  16  may secure to the base  12 . Meanwhile, a central portion  40  or center portion  40  of the rack  16  or bracket  16  may secure the controller thereto. Thus, the upper and lower portions  36 ,  38  may stand off or place away from the struts  14  the central portion  40  securing the controller  22 . Thus, the controller  22  riding on the central portion  38  may be spaced away a suitable distance to permit comfortable retention of the bodily member placed in the apparatus  10 . 
     Wires  42  may connect between the controller  22  and the various sources  20  of electromagnetic force. Accordingly, wires  42  may be embedded within the base  12 , struts  14 , and elsewhere by way of appropriate paths. The wires  42  may represent a single circuit or many circuits providing for individual sequencing and control of the various sources  20  distributed about the apparatus  10  in the struts  14 , base  12 , pad  18 , and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1-9  and  FIGS. 10-22 , an apparatus  10  in accordance with the invention may include a display  44 . The display  44  may be responsible for displaying time, programmatic information for an individual programming the controller  22 , as well as status information, instructional readouts, or the like for a user. 
     The controller  22  may be provided with a port  26  suitable for connecting the controller  22  to a computer, keyboard, or other user interface device suitable for programming the controller  22  for its functional regimen. For example, a doctor may prescribe a particular regimen, which regimen may be programmed by software. 
     The software may reside in the controller  22  itself, or may reside in a computer external thereto. By either a user interface or computer, a programmer, user, doctor, or medical professional may program the operation of the controller  22  as to time, frequency, power, voltage, current, or any combination or subcombination thereof in order to control the sequencing, intensity, frequency, duty cycle, and the like of the sources  20  controlled by the controller  22 . Thus, instructions, data, and the like may be exchanged between the controller  22  and a remote device such as a computer by suitable connection through a port  46 . 
     In general, the port  46  may be of any suitable type, including proprietary or standardized formats. For example, in certain embodiments, the port  46  may be a standard USB port suitable for connecting one computer peripheral device to another, or one computer to another. Accordingly, the port  46  may receive instructions from a remote computer, a user interface, a keyboard, or any other input device, such as a keypad, or unique proprietary device suitable for providing instructions, downloads, or even direct manipulation of the programming of the controller  22 . 
     In general, the sources  20  may be imbedded in apertures made in the struts  14 , the base  12 , or both. In general, the individual sources  20  may be separately powered and controlled, may be controlled in groups, and individual sources  20  or groups may be controlled in a sequence otherwise manipulated to assure the sequence in which each is properly activated. 
     The spacing between the sources  20  (e.g., radially therebetween) may be selected according to the electromagnetic flux of any particular coil, the potential for interference, the isolation by sequencing at individual times, or the like. Accordingly, an apparatus  10  in accordance with the invention as illustrated may include more or fewer sources, may include magnetic cores within the sources or air cores, and may include more or fewer of the coils distributed in a particular member, such as a strut  14  or the base  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , a strut  14  of the apparatus  10  in accordance the invention may include augmentation of a strut  14  by a panel  48 . The panel  48  may extend the horizontal domain of the strut  14  to provide additional material and surface area to support sources  20 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 18 , the strut  14  on one side, or the struts  14  on both sides, of the apparatus  10  may be provided with one or more panels  48  containing sources  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the panels corresponding to the nearer strut  14  are removed for clarity in seeing the panels  48  of the opposing side. 
     As a practical matter, the panels  48  may be formed of a suitable polymer, such as an elastomer, a hard or a flexible plastic, a fiber-reinforced polymer, or the like. Likewise, in order to accommodate the shape and size of a foot, along with the appropriate pad  18  wrapped therearound, the panels  48  may have distinctive shapes suitable for surrounding a member and appropriate to each. 
     For example, the upper panel  48  is effectively wrapped around the leg of the user, whereas the lower panel  48  may wrap or instead be aligned substantially parallel with the wall  28  of the base  12 . The sources  20  may be formed of coils arrayed on front and back portions (with respect to a direction of motion) of panels  48  affixed to the struts  14 . 
     Meanwhile, the bed  24  on which the foot of a user rests may be constructed of multiple layers in order to provide a top witness layer above a lower cushion or other substrate. Thus, the substrate remains whether or not the upper witness layer is compromised. By being compromised is meant that the witness layer may be worn, torn, cut, abraided, or otherwise rendered broken or removed in order that a complementary color of the underlying substrate be visible. The visible underlaying substrate indicates that a user has put pressure, load, or wear on the witness layer, thus violating prescriptive restrictions on motion and on weighting the leg, foot, or the like prematurely. 
     Referring to  FIG. 19 , a module  50  suitable for mounting a controller  22  to the struts  14  of an apparatus  10  may include a receiver  52  formed to matingly receive a controller  22 . Typically, a retainer  54  may form a part of the receiver  52 , or part of the structure corresponding thereto in receiving and retaining the controller  22  thereby. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, connectors  56  are received into the controller  22  or controller module  22 , making electrical contact required by the controller  22  from power sources within the module  50 . 
     In certain embodiments of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, an indicator  58 , an operating button  58 , or a combination thereof  58  may be provided on or near an exterior surface of the controller  22 . For example, an individual may touch the button  58 , causing the button to light, beep, or otherwise indicate as an indicator  58 . Thus, the button  58  may serve as a button  58  or actuator  58 , as well as an indicator  58 . 
     The fasteners  32  may capture the strut  14  in order to secure the module  50  thereto. Suitable embodiments may include one or more of screws, detents, bosses, clips, slides, and other forms of resistance to relative motion therebetween. In certain embodiments, the mere friction maintained by the fastener  34  against the struts  14  may provide vertical support while brackets, barbs, edges, and other forms of capture mechanisms may provide horizontal stability capturing the struts  14  within the modules  50 . 
     A port  46  may be of any suitable type. Proprietary formats may serve well. Nevertheless, inasmuch as many standardized formats have been developed over decades, selection of a suitable format commonly used such as a USB, a mini-USB, or other port  46  may provide electronic data access to the controller  22  by an external programming device, keyboard, computer, or the like. 
     Meanwhile, the display  44  may be of any suitable type including LED&#39;s (light-emitting diodes), liquid crystal display (LCD), Nixie lights or any other suitable format of device for displaying to the user information output by the controller, inputs received, or other graphically or alphanumerically displayed characters. 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , the rack  16  may include any suitable number of connectors  56  as appropriate to transmit power, data, or both. Dedicated channels may be supported better by use of more than two connectors  56 . Nevertheless, some connectors  56  may provide multiple electrical connections on a single mechanical connector. By whatever mode, the connectors  56  provide communication between the power supply and the controller in the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 21 , the rack  16 , in an exploded view may be seen to contain a power source  60 . The power supply may use line power, rectified DC current, or stored power such as batteries  60 , or a battery pack  60  comprising one or more batteries. 
     In certain embodiments, the power source  60  may be distributed along two sides of the rack  16 , in order to reduce the profile of the apparatus  10 . For example, at some point, when a patient is ambulatory or walking in a “walking cast” apparatus  10 , extension of the rack  16  laterally between the feet or ankles of a user may cause an obstruction to walking. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the connectors  56  are secured in the rack  16  by a set of retainers  62 . In general, the retainer  62  may be of any suitable type and provide mechanical securement of the connectors  56  for support purposes. The connectors  56  may be connected electrically to wires by soldering, fastening with screws, or the like. 
     A base plate  64  may secure to the rack  16  maintaining a snug and immovable fit of the batteries  60  or power source  60  within the rack  16 . Pins  66  or receivers  66  for accepting screws or other fasteners may penetrate into apertures  68  in the rack  16 . Accordingly, fasteners, such as screws, rivets, glue, solvent, latches, and the like may be used to hold the pins  66  inside the apertures  68  without moving appreciably. Accordingly, the base plate  64  may be secured against the rack  16  to store the power supplies  60  or power sources  60  such as battery packs  60  within the rack  16 . 
     The cavities  70  for receiving the power sources  60  or batteries  60  may be suitably shaped to maintain the mechanical relationship between individual elements, such as batteries  60 . For example, typical batteries  60  have substantial weight and substantially higher density than many other materials. Accordingly, the batteries  60  may beneficially be maintained separate from one another in order to not provide noise, not damage one another, not damage the rack  16 , and so forth. Accordingly, the cavities  70  may be shaped to maintain the batteries  60  each in its particular location, stabilized in up to three dimensions of space. 
     An additional benefit of forming the cavities  70  about the power source  60  according to the shape of the power source  60 , may also include structural efficiency. For example, by providing greater thicknesses and other dimensions of material in the rack  16  where convenient, while thinning down or reducing the amount of material in other places, the overall strength, stiffness, section modules, or the like may be optimized while minimizing distortion and weight. 
     Referring to  FIG. 22 , the controller  22  may include a readout  74  providing actual display of alphanumeric, graphical, or other indications to a user. The readout may be mounted in a suitable frame  76  or cap  76  suitable for maintaining structural integrity. For example, a display  74  or readout  74  may typically not be particularly robust mechanically. Thus, the readout  74  may actually need the mechanical protection and rigidity provided by the frame  76  or cap  76 . Meanwhile, a lens  78  may alter the color, provide glare protection, or otherwise protect the readout  74  mechanically from damage. 
     The lens  78  may be secured outside or inside the frame  76  in order to provide a suitable securement process. For example, the lens  78  may actually be glued, screwed, riveted, ultrasonically welded or otherwise bound to the cap  76  or frame  76  in a suitable manner. An aperture in the lense  78  may provide access to the port  46 . 
     A port  46  may be mounted on a suitable back plate  47  or other structural member fitted into a bracket  79  in the case  80  suitable for receiving the back plate  47  of the port  46 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cap  76  or frame  76  is provided with countersunk holes for receiving a fastener such as a screw that then penetrates into matching apertures within the case  80 . Thus, the cap  76  secures together the readout  74 , the cap  76  or frame  76 , and the port  46  all within the case  80 . 
     The circuit board  82  may be fitted to the back of the case  80  or may be slid into the bottom or the top of the case  80  in any suitable manner to provide suitable data and power connections. For example, the board  82  may be provided with contacts  84  suitable for making a mechanical and electrical connection with the connectors  56  from the rack  16 . Thus, whenever the contacts or connectors  56  from the rack penetrate into the case  80 , they are aligned with apertures (not shown) accessing the contacts  84  on the board  82 . Thus, the connectors  56  penetrate into the case  80  to make contact with the contacts  84  delivering power to the board  82 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 23 , the controller may provide to the sources  20  a voltage and current suitable for inducing a magnetic field. Accordingly, each of the sources  20  may include a coil having any suitable number of turns and any suitable material. For example, the sources  20  may include 5, 10, 20, or any suitable number of turns about an air core or a metal (e.g., ferro-magnetic core). Accordingly,  FIG. 23  illustrates a typical mode of control relying on controlling voltage applied to a source  20  of electromagnetic force or electromagnetic flux. In the illustrated embodiment, the peak voltage is indicated by the letter ‘V’ with a total elapsed time indicated by ‘T.’ 
     The actual wave form, including rise time and rate and decay time and rate of the voltage may be configured in any suitable manner. For example, in some embodiments, the rise time of the voltage may occur so comparatively quickly as to appear to generate a square wave. Nevertheless, even a square wave has a rise time limitation that actually does not produce the maximum voltage within zero time, but during some comparatively longer or shorter time period. 
     Accordingly, the wave shape of the voltage may be altered as to its rise time and its decay time in accordance with suitable therapeutic determinations. At this point, it is not considered critical exactly how the rise time and the wave shape are configured. In order to influence the piezoelectric properties of bone material, what is needed is an induced voltage or current within the cells of the body in order to provide a microexercise operating at a substantially cellular level in the bone. 
     The duty cycle is illustrated by the indicator ‘n’ in the illustration. For example, any particular fraction or percentage of the total elapsed time may be filled with voltage cycles as selected for the time of the duty cycle or the dwell time during which the actual voltage of the illustrated wave form is applied. A series of voltage waves oscillating between the maximum and minimum values may occur at a selected frequence during ‘n %’ of an elapsed time ‘T.’ Thus, the ‘n %’ of the cycle time ‘T” (one “duty cycle”) defines a period of application of voltage waves, themselves cycling at a selected frequency (typically between 50 and 500 Hertz and usually between about 150 and 200 Hertz). Meanwhile, each period ‘T’ may be repeated during a percentage of the total time of another therapeutic duty cycle. Thus, for example, a voltage may cycle at 150 Hertz for 6 seconds of every minute, repeated five minutes, all repeated once every hour. Thus applied in 24 hours are twelve minutes of voltage cycling. 
     Referring to  FIG. 24 , in one arrangement, a series of sources  20  or coils  20  may be connected to be actuated together. For example, each individual source  20  or coil  20  must receive power from someplace. Whenever a current is run, it may be run through any suitable number of sources  20  in series. In order to sequence the actuation of these individual series of sources, different series of coils  20  or sources  20  may be connected separately. Each particular series may be actuated upon its particular circuit receiving voltage (or current, but actually both, since they occur together). 
     In the illustrated embodiment, five separate coils  20  are connected in series, such that the voltage across the entire series is the controlled voltage. Accordingly, inasmuch as the five coils are identical and arranged in series, each has its proportionate share of the applied voltage. Meanwhile, each is provided the same number of turns, ten in this instance, and each of the five coils  20  may provide one fifth of the overall voltage drop applied to the series. 
     Meanwhile, being connected in series, each of the coils  20  of  FIG. 24  receives the same current. The current applied by the power supply must travel through all of the coils  20  in order to travel through any of them. Thus, for example, the voltage trace or wave form may be applied to the series of coils  20  in  FIG. 24  as the voltage or power input. In reality, a power input will provide a voltage and a current. Thus, application of either voltage or current will necessarily carry with it the other of these two parameters in order to constitute power used by the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 25 , testing results for one embodiment of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention applied various voltages ranging from six to 24 volts as illustrated in the first column of  FIG. 25 . Initially, a frequency of 500 Hz in which ‘n’ the duty cycle in percentage was five percent. Thus, voltage at 500 Hertz was applied five percent of the total elapsed time ‘T.’ 
     It should be understood that the duty cycle may be controlled in multiple ways. In certain embodiments, the individual coils  20  may be activated during some overall period of time during which the duty cycle percentage or ‘n’ is a time period in which an alternating voltage is applied. Meanwhile, the elapsed time ‘T’ may itself be repeated at some particular periodicity. Thus, another overall time may represent the amount of time during which several individual periods (T) are applied. 
     Likewise, a voltage may be applied (rise) and decayed hundreds of times per second. With one cycle per second being a single Hertz, a voltage may be applied and dropped once in a single cycle time ‘T’. Thus, a voltage rise may occur and disappear, followed by a lengthy period of no electrical activity. In another embodiment, the voltage may be applied and decayed multiple times during the portion ‘n’ of a cycle time ‘T’. Thus, the cycle time ‘T’ may represent a single cycle time of application of voltage, or the cycle time ‘T’ may be an application of voltage hundreds or thousands of times as alternating voltage at a frequency during the fraction n or percentage n of an overall time period ‘T.’ 
     Then ‘T’ may be repeated several times during every larger time period T 1 , which may be repeated several times in a larger time period T 2 , and so forth. 
     Referring to  FIG. 25 , the voltage applied ranged from six volts to 24 volts. Meanwhile, the frequency or the number of Hertz was held at 500 Hertz for the first experiment, 500 Hertz for the second experiment, and 200 Hertz for the third experiment. Meanwhile, the duty cycle or the percentage ‘n’ of the time that the voltage was so alternating for each time period ‘T’ ranged from five percent for the first experiment to ten percent for the second experiment and five percent for the third experiment. 
     The magnetic flux densities in micro Tesla are shown. Average currents in Amperes were likewise as shown. One will note that, for example, at six volts using a 500 Hertz signal with a five percent duty cycle, the magnetic flux density is 7.4 micro Tesla. Meanwhile, for the same frequency with a ten percent duty cycle, the magnetic flux density is 15.7 micro Tesla, or more than twice the magnetic flux density. Meanwhile, at 200 Hertz, the six volt power supply provides a magnetic flux density of nine micro Tesla even at a five percent duty cycle. 
     Meanwhile, at 16 volts, the 500 Hertz experiment with the five percent duty cycle produced 18 micro Tesla while the 500 Hertz experiment at ten percent duty cycle produced a 26.8 micro Tesla result. No longer is the flux density double for the greater duty cycle. Meanwhile at 200 Hertz, using a five percent duty cycle, the 16 volt experiment produced 14.6 micro Tesla. Thus, the flux density is less than that of the 500 Hertz and five percent duty cycle experiment, whereas at six volts, the 200 Hertz and five percent duty cycle experiment had greater magnetic flux density than the 500 Hertz and five percent duty cycle experiment. 
     Thus, it can be seen that the flux density, and the use of power may be optimized for any particular set of sources  20 . Accordingly, the size of the aperture or core space in each source  20  may be selected and matched to a particular voltage and current to be run through the source  20  as well as the number of sources  20  or coils  20  to be placed in a particular series. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 26 and 27 , the laws of electromagnetics indicate that the magnetic field surrounding a conductor having a current flowing in a first direction abides by the “right-hand rule.” The right-hand rule states that if the thumb of the right hand is facing in the direction of current along a conductor, with the fingers of the right hand wrapped around the conductor, then the direction of the magnetic field is the direction of the fingers of the right hand wrapped around the conductor. Thus, in  FIG. 26 , the conductor current direction applies to all of the turns within a particular coil  20 . Nevertheless, recall that a source  20  may include more than a coil. The coil  20  may contain an air core, in which the coil  20  is the entire source  20  or may contain a magnetic core in order to better control, develop, and direct the magnetic flux through the coil  20 . 
     Likewise,  FIG. 27  illustrates a conductor, having a current direction, and a magnetic field direction. At locations nearest a coil, the magnetic flux may crowd and curve around the conductor by the right hand rule. Some distance away from the center thereof, the flux lines may distribute more widely. Accordingly, magnetic flux lines may be defined directionally with respect to the conductor, in all three dimensions, as they propagate through space in their particular geometry. 
     Referring to  FIG. 28 , testing results for an experiment ranging from six volts to 24 volts with a 150 Hertz frequency and a five percent duty cycle illustrate magnetic flux densities in micro Tesla along the x axis of  FIG. 27 , the z axis thereof, and the y axis thereof. X, Y, and Z are mutually orthogonal. Accordingly, in the illustration of  FIG. 27 , the current direction is the Z direction. Meanwhile, the X direction is the direction radially outward from the conductor, while the Y direction is the circumferential direction around the conductor. 
     One will note that the magnetic flux density in a radial direction X compares with the flux density in the circumferential or Y direction. Meanwhile, the magnetic flux density along the Z direction of the conductor or current flow direction is typically an order of magnitude or more less than that in either of the other directions, which flux densities are typically comparative. 
     Referring to  FIG. 29 , the 150 Hertz experiment was duplicated through the voltage range from six volts to 24 volts as illustrated, with magnetic flux densities calculated in the X, Y, and Z directions or along those axes. Substantial increases in flux densities along the X and Y axes are apparent and, although smaller, increases are also shown along the Z axis. 
     Referring to  FIG. 30 , the testing results for an experiment at 500 Hertz and a five percent duty cycle illustrate substantially reduced magnetic flux densities in the X and Y directions, with about the same proportion of flux density distributed to the Z direction. This experiment ranging between six volts and 24 volts also illustrates that the average current Amperage is substantially reduced at this high frequency compared to the current at the lower 150 Hertz frequency. Although the five and 10 percent duty cycles of  FIGS. 28 and 29 , respectively, are at least within the same order of magnitude of one another, the increase to 500 Hertz shows a dramatic decrease, in response to the slower inductive properties of magnets at increased frequencies. 
     Referring to  FIG. 31 , the 500 Hertz experiment is repeated at a ten percent duty cycle, showing marked increases in the magnetic flux densities along the X and Y axes, with about the same proportional response in the Z direction as well. Typical current also increases, to approximately double that of the 500 Hertz and five percent duty cycle experiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 32 , the testing results from a 200 Hertz experiment and a five percent duty cycle in the range of voltages from six to 24 volts shows a magnetic flux density comparable to the 150 Hertz five percent duty cycle. Accordingly, the voltage, the frequency, the duty cycle may be manipulated to provide the appropriate therapeutically effective magnetic flux density and dwell time or duty cycle desired. 
     Specific values of parameters such as frequency and flux densities have been found to trigger somewhat distinctive specific responses in different tissue types. For example, a specific frequency and microTesla ratings have been found to significantly increase the healing of skin and open wounds, whereas other frequencies have been found to relieve inflammation (i.e., reduce swelling and relieve pain). Yet other frequencies stimulate bone growth. 
     In certain embodiments of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, the particular frequencies may be selected to be applied serially, one following another. The applications may be “multiplexed” or divided in time by increments, each defining a time span in which power is applied, followed by the next time period, and so forth. Any part of the foregoing duty cycles discussed above may be so subdivided, whether a single wave function at a time, a period of constant wave oscillation at a time, a series of interrupted applications of a continual wave a time, a duty cycle of any configuration at a time, or an entire treatment regimen at a time for one single frequency, flux density, or the like for one period of time corresponding thereto. 
     Alternatively, one treatment regimen, appropriate to one tissue type or effect (e.g., relief or pain or swelling, repair of skin damage, etc.) may be run over minutes, hours, days, weeks or any other appropriate time period, at one set of parameter values. Thereafter, another regimen (e.g., repair of muscle trauma, bone healing, bone densification, etc.) may follow with its own set of parameter values. Thus, whether effectively simultaneous or sequential, a particular set of treatment may be programmed and run, each with its own timing and priority. 
     Thus, several conditions or a single condition of highest priority may be addressed by an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention. Pain relief and bone growth may be sequenced or simultaneous, each as needed and according to the bodily resources&#39; ability to respond to highest priorities with their most effective means to respond. 
     In certain embodiments, one may combine all desired frequencies at once to promote overall repair and maintenance. In another embodiment, the apparatus and method may cycle through different frequencies during the use period. Meanwhile, different settings for parameters, different periods of application of frequency and flux, and different durations of regimens, as well as distinct starting times hours or days hence may be programmed into an apparatus to implement such a method to meet a particular need. Meanwhile, needs may range through pain reduction, swelling reduction, soft tissue repair, bone fusion, bone density maintenance, epithelial repair, soft tissue maintenance to exercise at a micro level to replicate everyday bodily use, each at the flux density and frequency determined to be most effective for each intended regimen. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 33-36 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 33-49 , a pad  18  may be arranged with any number of series of sources  20 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the pad  18  is provided with numerous sources  20  mechanically laid out in an array. 
     The pad  18  may have an inner portion  88  or inner layer  88  over a center layer  90  or center portion  90 , all covered with an outer layer  92 . Apertures  94  may be formed to be fitted with sources  20 . Each source may be made up of a spool  98  supporting a coil  100  of wire  101 . Each spool  98  may be made up of a drum  102  or drum portion  102  flanked on either end thereof by flanges  104  or flange portions  104 . 
     One or more tabs  106  on at least one flange  104  may serve to secure each spool  98  to the center layer  90  to secure the spool  98  with respect thereto. The apertures  108  in the tab  106  may receive therethrough a thread or other fastener. A suitably soft polymer or composite may not require an aperture  106 , if a needle us used to simply penetrate some portion of a tab  106 , flange  104 , or both. 
     Referring to  FIG. 36 , while continuing to refer to  FIGS. 33-49 , various portions of the mechanical array may be electrically connected in various series, such as series A, series B, and so forth up to some number of series that represents the maximum, such as the series n. Each series represents one circuit. Each of the sources  20  in one series will be energized at the same time by a source of voltage, current, or typically both. 
     Either voltage or current is typically controlled, and the other relies on the response of the circuit. Thus, the number of sources  20 , the number of turns in each, the presence or absence of a magnetic core, the wire size, the frequency of application of the current, and the like may control the specific current traveling through each source  20  upon application of a particular voltage. 
     The pad  90  or the inner layer  90  of the mat  18  may be thermally bonded fabric. Meanwhile, a computerized numerical control may be used to automatically place cores and cut fabric. Meanwhile, various taped strips of coils may also be used to fabricate series of coils suitable for placement within the inner layer  90  of the pad  18 . 
     For example, a pair of layers of synthetic fabric, such as a non-woven fabric formed of a synthetic fiber may travel through a machine laying coils either in the direction of travel of the material, or orthogonal to the direction of travel. Accordingly, computerized equipment may apply pressure and heat at selected locations, such as the center of a coil  20 , the periphery of a coil  20 , or both. Thus, the fabric may fix and preserve the location of each of the coils or sources  20  with respect to itself. 
     For example, in one embodiment, a tool may apply a ring of pressure and heat just inside the inner diameter of one of the sources  20 . Meanwhile, at the same time, or at another time, a tool may apply a circle of heat around the outer periphery of the coil or source  20 . Thus, the source  20  may be completely stabilized within fabric without the need for any spool  98  therewithin. 
     The thickness of the wire  101  of the coils  100  may be minimized by removing any external insulation layer. For example, magnet wire may be formed to have a flexible enamel on the outer surface thereof, thus providing insulation that is more integral with the wire  101 . In this manner, the wire diameter may be very thin, and the inner core  90  of the pad  18  may be particularly flexible and soft, without the need for thick layers of padding in order to obscure the effects primarily of the spool  98  itself. 
     Of course, the spool  98  may be made small, thin, and so forth, including being made of a very soft elastomeric polymer. Nevertheless, the spool  98  may be dispensed with in favor of stabilizing each of the coils  100  within fabric itself. In fact, in certain embodiments, the entire pad  18  may be bonded periodically by thermal bonding, if made of a synthetic material suitable for bonding by addition of heat and pressure. In this manner, the coils may be stabilized, yet the overall pad  18  may be made comparatively thin or thick according to comfort, rather than being subject to excessive mechanical constraints due to the mechanics of the sources  20  and their optional spools  98 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 37 , in one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention, spools  98  may be secured to a core  90  by a series of pedestals or bollards  109 . In the illustrated embodiment, the basic mat  90  or core  90  may be formed of a flexible layer of a polymer, such as an elastomeric solid sheet or layer of expanded foam material. Meanwhile, by vacuum forming, pressing, die stamping, blow molding, or the like, the core  90  may be formed to have small bollards  109  to receive spools  98 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 37 , the bollards are provided with a main pedestal and a top keeper that provides a detent to secure spools  98  thereto. Accordingly, spools  98  may be snapped onto the bollards  109  to locate and stabilize each of the coils  100  therearound. Meanwhile, an outer layer  92  may be applied by bonding, heat, or the like at the top of each of the bollards  109  in order to close in the coils  100  and their respective spools  98 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 38 , in one embodiment, non-woven fabrics may be used, thus reducing costs substantially for the central portion  90  of the pad  18 . Nevertheless, woven fabrics may be used as well. However, typically, synthetic fabrics formed of polymers based on petroleum typically have melting temperatures lower than those of natural fibers such as wool, cotton, flax, and the like. Likewise, certain natural fibers will not effectively bond by melting. 
     Thus, in one embodiment of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, a layer  110  of fabric may receive a coil  100  applied thereto. Meanwhile, an anvil behind the layer  110  (not shown) may be heated or may simply provide a resistance to the pressure applied by another tool such as a sealing head  120  or a head  120  providing heat and pressure. 
     In one embodiment, a layer  110   a  of fabric  110  may have a coil  110  laid thereagainst, after which, a bonding ring  112  may be formed in the center of the coil  100 , around the outside thereof, or both. For example, the core region  114  of the coil  100  may be separated away from the coil  100  by the head  120  applying pressure and heat to the layer  110   b  of the fabric  110  thus forming the bonding ring  112  of bonded fabric within the inner perimeter of the coil  110 . 
     Accordingly, the spool  98  is actually formed simply by the bonding ring  112  acting as the drum  102  inside the coil  100 . Meanwhile, tack welds  116  at strategic locations, or a ring about part or all of the entire periphery outside the coil  100 , may bond the layers  110   a ,  110   b  together. Thus, the coil  100  is captured and stabilized inside a fabric spool, whose dimensionality is preserved by the fabric  110  itself. Any appropriate number of the coils  100  may be so bonded between layers  110   a ,  110   b , of any extent. In the illustrated embodiment, the layers  110  may be formed into a tape  118 . Thus, the layer  110   a  may be continuous while the layer  110   b  may be discontinuous patches of the fabric  110 . Between any two coils  100  the fabric  110  and wires may be cut and controlling power leads attached to the wires. 
     By applying a ring or even a complete cylindrically filled plate  122 , the bonding ring  120  or the head  120  may form the bonding ring  112 . If a magnetic core is to be applied in the core region  114 , then such a core may be captured within the bonding ring  112  during the bonding process. The hot plate  122  or hot ring  122  may thus be designed according to whether or not a magnetic core will be captured in the core region  114  or not. 
     Referring to  FIG. 39 , in one embodiment of a pad  18 , various coils  100  may be bonded by any suitable mechanism. For example, the method of  FIG. 38  may be made to have a somewhat sophisticated shape of die representing the function of the hot ring  122 . If a head  120  can be made in a suitable shape, then a single application of pressure and temperature along the entire pattern of the pad  18  may stamp the coils into a stable relationship with the pad  18 . In alternative embodiments, the coils  100  may actually be printed on a substrate that is then bonded to the pad  18 . 
     Of course, in accordance with previous embodiments discussed hereinabove, the wire coils may be embedded in the pad  18  by thermo-pressure bonding of the fabric materials together, thus capturing the coils therein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 40-41 , one embodiment of a pad  18  suitable for use around or within an arm splint or cast may include an upper arm portion  124  connected to a lower arm portion  126 . A gap  128  may be provided in order to provide relief for closure at the inside surface of an elbow of a user. In one embodiment, an aperture  130  may be required for a thumb. Nevertheless, in some embodiments, the cast may terminate at the wrist in order to immobilize an elbow, without necessarily requiring immobility of a hand. 
     Various types of fasteners  132 , such as hook-and-loop fasteners, may provide securement of the pad  18  to itself. For example, the upper arm portion  124  may wrap around the upper arm of a user, being secured to itself by a fastener  132 , such as a fastener strip  132 . Likewise, after bending, the lower arm portion  126  may then be formed to wrap against itself by suitable fasteners  132 , such as a fasteners strip  132  or other fastener mechanism as appropriate. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 42-43 , a wrap  18  or pad  18  suitable for use on a foot, leg, or both of a user may include a leg portion  134  and a foot portion  136 . The leg portion  134  and foot portion  136  may be formed of a single piece of material having a suitable gap portion  128  in order to relieve the bunching of extra material at the inside of the bend formed therein upon application to a user. In the illustrated embodiment, as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 40-41 , the pad  18  may be a pad  18  in accordance with the invention having a number of sources  20  having coils  100  arrayed in any suitable format for applying electromagnetic flux to the foot, to the ankle, to the leg, or any combination thereof. The pads  18  may contain a splint (not shown), be used with a cast  10  system, or the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 44-45 , a pad  18  for application to the wrist and hand of a user may include a wrist portion  138  and a hand portion  139 . The wrist portion  138  and hand portion  139  may be suitably shaped to wrap around a wrist and hand of a user, relying on a closure  132  or multiple closure sections  132 . In certain embodiments, a series of straps, buckles, fasteners, and the like may be used to wrap the pad  18  around a bodily member and fasten to itself or secure it to itself. Nevertheless, in one embodiment, hook-and-loop fasteners may be provided to act as the fastener segments  132 . Likewise, an aperture  130  for receiving a thumb therethrough may also be provided as appropriate. 
     Referring to  FIG. 46 , a wrap  18  or pad  18  made in accordance with the invention may be configured in a shape suitable or operating as a collar about a neck of a user. Similarly, a fastener portion  132  may secure the wrap  18  back to itself. Meanwhile, in certain embodiments, pads  18  may be formed in various shapes. For example, in certain embodiments a bodily member may be elevated by a wedge shape, or bodily members may be needing separation from one another. Accordingly, various shapes of pads, pillows, wedges, and the like may be formed in order to position or separate bodily members. Meanwhile, each may be provided as a wrap  18 , having a central portion  90  shaped as appropriate in order to provide the suitable sources  20  proximate to members of a recovering user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 48 , a pad  18  generally may be provided in any suitable shape, including a simple flat shape that may be wrapped around a bodily member at any substantially constant diameter. For example, fasteners  132  may be provided to secure the pad  18  around a member of a user. Similarly, a bodily member such as a forearm, calf, or the like may have a tapered shape requiring a more specific fit. Accordingly, such a shape may be formed as a trapezoid that will wrap to form a somewhat conical wrap  18  or frustum of a cone. 
     Referring to  FIG. 49 , for example, the pad  18  may be wrapped around a bodily member providing a maximum and minimum diameter when the fasteners  132  secure the pad  18  to itself. Thus, a bodily member having a substantial taper may benefit from the shape of the pad  18  of  FIG. 49 . Meanwhile, a pad having a rectangular shape, as in  FIG. 18 , and of suitable length-to-width ratio, may be used about an abdomen, an arm having less dramatic shape change, a collar, or the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 50 , a pad  18  may include a pocket  140  to hold a controller  22 , the power supply  60  or source  60  of power, and the like. In one embodiment, a pocket  140  may be provided a closure  142  secured by fasteners  132 . Thus, a set of wires  42  or power lines  142  may proceed from the power supply  60  to a remote controller to magnetic sources  20 , or both. For example, the controller may operate in the vicinity or in the same pocket  140  with the power supply  60 . Alternatively, the power supply  60  may be provided with wires  42  to a controller remote therefrom. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 51-52 , for example, the pocket  140  of  FIG. 50  may apply to a dressing  150 . In the illustrated embodiment, a dressing  150  may include an array of sources  20  containing coils  100 , receiving power through a connector  156  on a substrate  152 . In certain embodiments, a substrate  152  may provide the structural material establishing a protective cover or the like for a dressing  150 . Accordingly, a cover  154  may provide a clear or opaque covering over an array of sources  20  of electromagnetic force or electromagnetic flux. The coils  100  of the sources  20  may connect by wires  42  to a connector  156 . The connector  156  may have a mating portion connecting to the wires  42  in a power supply as illustrated in  FIG. 60 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, the connector  156 , may establish separation between a dressing  150 , which may need to be changed, and the power supply  60  that may benefit from being used to exhaustion of the available power. 
     Referring to  FIG. 52 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 50-52  and while continuing to refer more generally to all  FIGS. 1-59 , a substrate  152  may include perforations  158 . Meanwhile, a connector  156  may be provided as illustrated in detail in  FIG. 51 . A sealed insert  160  may be provided permitting passage of air or moisture therethrough in accordance with the primary functions of various types of dressings  150 . 
     For example, the perforations  158  may pass through multiple layers including a top layer  162 , a bottom layer  164 , and the intervening sources  20  with their incorporated coils  100  therein. Thus, the connector  156  may provide access to the outside environment, and connect to the wires  42  of a power supply  60 . 
     The controller  22  may be a simple matter of digital control, or even a matter of on/off control. In certain embodiments, a small oscillator with cycle control may be embedded in the controller  22  secured to the power supply  60  controlling power through the application of voltage, current, or the like as may be selected as the controlled parameter applied to the wires  42 . 
     Meanwhile, wires  42  continue past the connector  156  and on to the sources  20 . Meanwhile, the perforations  158  may actually operate as seals, sealing the sources  20  away from any liquids that may be picked up by the gauze  168 , filler  168 , or other absorber  168  of the dressing. The absorbent material  168  may be any suitable material in one or more layers as contemplated in the medical arts. Thus, the perforations  158  provide access to ambient air for drying of the absorbent material  168 . In certain embodiments, the sealed portion  160  may be bonded to the substrate  152 , and perforated thereafter, with the perforations  158  aligned with respect to the interior portions of the coils  100  of the sources  20  in particular. 
     Referring to  FIG. 53 , connectors  169   a ,  169   b  may provide an interface between the program system  170  or software system  170  of the apparatus  10 . For example, in certain embodiments, the system  170  may actually be embedded in firmware. Regardless of the implementation scheme, the system  170  may connect by the connector  169   a  to a keyboard, computer, or the like. Accordingly, a programmatic control interface  172  may provide communications to a user through a keyboard, controller, control module, computer, or the like. Thus, an individual user, medical professional, patient, or the like may provide programming into the system  170  through the programmatic control interface  171  upon connection through the connector  169   a  to a suitable user interface. 
     Meanwhile, a user interface  172  within the system  170  provides information for operating with some other user input device such as a computer or keyboard, user output device such as a display, or both. Thus, the user interface  172  is responsible to provide queries, prompts, feedback, or the like required to enable and inform a user in programming the system  170 . An input module  173  may accept inputs, and provide data exchange with the user interface in order to operate with the hardware and software embedded within the system  170 . 
     In certain embodiments, a prescription module  174  may provide certain standardized regimens. Those regimens may be established by research and medical professionals in order to provide certain standardized, therapeutic formats easily addressed by simple identifiers such as plan numbers. In certain alternative embodiments, the prescription module  174  may interface with a computer of a doctor or other medical professional prescribing a regimen. 
     Thus, the prescription module  174  may include memory locations for receiving a particular prescription of a user. The prescription module  174  may store a prescription for a cycle description, a time period, or an extended time period with multiple applications throughout multiple days of various regimens. 
     In certain embodiments, various control attributes  175  may be provided. For example, a system  170  may control current, voltage, or the like. Meanwhile, the system may be programmed to monitor various parameters overtime, such as the current and voltage, and may record them, prescribe them, or the like. 
     In some embodiments, various days counted from a particular beginning of therapy, days of the week, days of the month, or the like may be provided as control attributes for regimens supplied to a user. Meanwhile, times, including start time, stop time, operation time, duty cycle setting, and the like may be provided. Meanwhile, sequences for sequencing the particular sources  20  that will be operated, or the particular series of coils  100  that will be activated at any time, may be provided. 
     Startup information may include start times, beginning voltages, wave form shapes, frequencies, and the like controlling the starts. Likewise, stops, including wave form decays, something as simple as wait and start times, or the like may be specified. Delays between cycles, whether those cycles are individual applications of a particular wave form, periods of application of high frequency wave forms, and the like may be provided. 
     For example, the dwell time between regimen parameters of any type may be specified. The time between application of electromagnetic forces may be very long. For example, in some embodiments, it is contemplated that a regimen may operate for minutes, with multiple starts and stops for short duty cycles within those minutes. Meanwhile, the entire process may then stop for many minutes or even hours. Meanwhile, that regimen within an hour or hours may be repeated within days. Accordingly, all those starts, stops, and delays may be programmed into a regimen. 
     Likewise, frequencies of oscillation of voltages or other applied power parameters may be specified. Likewise, repetition of cycles may be varied. For example, in some embodiments, a regimen may include application of a particular wave form at a particular voltage for a particular number of cycles, all of which may be changed in subsequent applications within the same regimen. Accordingly, all of those frequencies with their appropriate starts, stops, and delays, may be applied as control attributes. 
     Typically, feedback is a very important part of medical observation. Accordingly, a historical log  176  may keep track of dates, times, various events, patient status, wave forms, any of the control attributes, and the like. 
     A power controller  177  may provide the interpreted result of the inputs and control attributes as they will be applied to the actual sources  20 . Meanwhile, the power wave form generator  178  may receive or operate to provide the particular voltage or current as a function of time for any particular cycle, for any particular combination of cycles, and for the complete regimen. Thus, the power wave form generator  178  may provide the control information that will control the sources  20  as they receive power from the power controller  177 . 
     Likewise, power conditioning  179  may be required in order to use the apparatus  10  with various sources of power. For example, in certain embodiments, the apparatus may be plugged into a wall outlet and use local line power. In other embodiments, the system  10  may work from batteries  60 . Accordingly, the power from the power source  60  whether batteries  60  wall line power  60 , or the like may require power conditioning controlled by the power conditioning module  179 . 
     Ultimately, the operating unit interface  180  sends signals to the sources  20  based upon the inputs received, as translated into actual control of the voltage, current, or the like being applied to each particular series in sequence according to the regimen prescribed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 54-59 , an apparatus  10  in accordance with the invention may include a control module  182  operable by a user. In certain embodiments, the control module  182  may be replaced by a computer, a keyboard, or other suitable computer interface appropriate to communicate with the controller  22 . In certain embodiments, the control module  182  may be provided with a port  184  suitable for receiving a connection or other interface with the apparatus  10 , a programming computer downloading data, both, or the like. 
     For example, in certain embodiments, the port  184  may actually connect to a flash drive, or USB line, thus connecting the control module  182  to the controller  22  for programming. In certain embodiments, a series of buttons  186  on the control module  182  may provide input by a user of the control inputs for the apparatus  10 . In certain embodiments, the button  186   a  may operate to power the system on or off. Meanwhile, the button  186   b  may then provide a user with the ability to set the level, to scan through menus on the display  44 , or otherwise program or set parameters for the controller  22 . 
     Thus, In certain embodiments, a control module  182  may provide a remote device not requiring any computer, keyboard, or any other interface. For example, if the display  44  of the controller  22  can display menus, cycle through alpha-numeric data, or even provide graphical information, then the controller module  182  may provide an interface for a user to program directly the controller  22  according to a desired regimen. 
     In certain embodiments, of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, a user may download applications through the control module  182 , and detailed regimens or prescriptions to be loaded into the controller  22 . 
     By the same token, the user may program directly, when convenient, through the port  46  of the controller  22  any desired control information passing into the controller  22 . Nevertheless, a benefit of the control module  182  is that a user need not be near a computer in order to operate the system  10  in accordance with the invention. 
     Connectors  184   a ,  184   b , are optional interfaces for communicating with power supplies, wraps  18 , sources  20 , or the like. Each is optional and may receive power in, send power out, both, or be absent in any particular embodiment. 
     Buttons  186  on a control module  182  may be added as convenient for ease of use and understanding by a user. The module  182  may record data such as how often the system  10  is worn, operated, walked on, or the like. 
     A pedometer may be fitted to the apparatus  10  to detect use, whether proper or improper, by a wearer. Thus, an actuator may move due to contact with a walking surface, thus activating a detector, counter, or the like. The detector may report to the controller  22 , control module  182 , or the like. Thus a medical professional may obtain a log of proper and improper use by a user. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.