Patent Publication Number: US-2022226663-A1

Title: Controller and flexible coils for inducing an effect of a chemical or biochemical agent to a mammalian subject

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/032,024, filed Jul. 10, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/774,688, filed Sep. 10, 2015, which is a 371 National Phase Application of PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/030018, filed Mar. 15, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/792,547, filed Mar. 15, 2013, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Various diseases and adverse health conditions affect people and animals. An example of a disease that affects people and animals is cancer, otherwise known medically as a malignant neoplasm. Cancer includes a broad group of various diseases that involve unregulated cell growth. In 2007, cancer attributed to approximately 13% of all human deaths worldwide, approximately 7.9 million people. Because of its effect on worldwide populations, new treatments for cancer are continually sought and researched. 
     Traditional treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, can be intrusive, can be life altering, and can leave the patient unable to perform routine day-to-day functions. Alternative treatments are desirable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a therapy system in use on a canine patient; 
         FIG. 2  is another diagram of the therapy system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of variations of coils used for providing electromagnetic or magnetic field therapy; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of variations of shapes and sizes of coils used for providing electromagnetic or magnetic field therapy; 
         FIGS. 5A-5B  are views of the manufacture of a cable for the therapy system; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a connector for the cable; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the connector for the cable; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a coil for the therapy system; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a housing of a controller for the therapy system; 
         FIG. 10  is an electrical schematic of microprocessor circuitry for the controller; 
         FIG. 11  is an electrical schematic of memory for the controller; 
         FIG. 12  is an electrical schematic of various components for the controller; 
         FIG. 13  is an electrical schematic of an LCD interface for the controller; 
         FIG. 14  is an electrical schematic of signal generator circuitry for the controller; 
         FIG. 15  is an electrical schematic of power regulation circuitry for the controller; 
         FIG. 16  is flow diagram of a method of operating the therapy system; 
         FIGS. 17A-17B  show diagrams of an example apparatus for securing the therapy system to the cranium of a human patient; and 
         FIG. 18  is a chart comparing U87 glioblastoma multiforme human cell line solid tumor volume of control mouse subjects to treated mouse subjects in a mouse study model. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The systems and methods described herein provide example embodiments of a non-intrusive delivery mechanism for treating diseases such as cancer and other adverse health conditions. As discussed above, traditional therapies associated with cancer treatment can leave undesirable side-effects. The Applicant has disclosed, in related patents and patent applications noted herein, systems and methods for detecting and recording molecular signals from chemical, biochemical, or biological molecules or from chemical, biochemical, or biological agents. In some implementations, the recordings represent molecular signals of the chemical, biochemical, or biological molecules or agents used to provide therapy for cancer, ailments or other adverse health conditions. The systems and methods disclosed herein may be configured to deliver the effect of chemical, biochemical, or biologic therapy to a patient without the use of drugs, by generating electromagnetic or magnetic fields that simulate or mimic molecular signals of particular chemicals, biochemical, or biologics. Thus, the systems and methods allow a patient to receive an electronic “prescription” or dosage of electromagnetic or radio frequency energy with, for example, the click of a button. The embodiments of the systems and methods describe a therapy system that is non-invasive, non-thermal, and mobile. 
     Note, as used herein, the term “drug” is used broadly to define any chemical, biochemical or biologic molecules including proteins, RNA and DNA sequences, etc. As used herein, and described in more detail below, the terms “magnetic field,” “electromagnetic field” and similar terms are used interchangeably to represent the presentation of energy to a selected region to address adverse health effects, where the presented energy has a characteristic reflecting that of a specific drug. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a therapy system  100  for applying magnetic signals to a patient, such as a canine, to provide therapeutic treatment, such as to selectively reduce or inhibit growth of particular types of cells. In some implementations, the therapy system  100  may be used to treat cancer cells by applying electromagnetic or magnetic fields to affected areas. These fields are induced or generated to expose an affected area with signals that mimic signals produced by chemotherapy drugs. Of course, while a canine is shown, and cancer treatment is discussed in general herein, the present system may be used with other patients such as humans, and with many other forms of treating disease or other ailments. The acquisition of the signals produced by chemotherapy drugs is discussed in great detail in patent applications and patents that are co-owned by the assignee of the instant application. These patents and applications include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,724,188; 6,995,558; 6,952,652; 7,081,747; 7,412,340; and 7,575,934; and PCT Application No. PCT/US2009/002184, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     The therapy system  100  may provide various advantages over traditional cancer treatments. For example, the therapy system  100  may be portable and worn or carried by a patient to allow the patient to receive therapy while at home, at work, at school, and during recreation. Furthermore, the therapy system  100  may enable a patient to receive treatments without visiting a health care facility, without incurring extensive recovery time, and possibly without experiencing other traditional side-effects such as: nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and the development of infections. The therapy system  100  includes a coil and cable assembly  102  coupled to a controller  104 . In accordance with various implementations, the therapy system  100  may be secured to the patient using fasteners  106  (inclusive of  106   a ,  106   b , and  106   c ), such as tape, elastic bandages, gauze, or the like. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the therapy system  100  as it may be provided to a physician or patient. In addition to the coil and cable assembly  102  and the controller  104 , when delivered to a customer, the therapy system  100  may also include an additional controller  108  and a battery charging device  110 . For various security reasons which are discussed below, each controller may be manufactured so that a housing for the controller cannot be opened easily. The tamper-resistant housing may therefore make it difficult to interchange one battery for another. Therefore, to allow a patient to continuously receive therapy with the therapy system  100 , one or more additional controllers  108  may be provided to allow the patient to receive therapy while the controller  104  is charging with the charging device  100 . The coil, cable and connector assembly  102  may be disposable, or the system as a whole together with the one or more controllers  104 ,  108 . Thus the coil and cable assembly  102  and/or controller  104 ,  108  are preferably provided for a single therapeutic session and for one prescription, so that the controller and coil assembly are not to be reused, thereby preventing cross contamination, etc. 
     Therapy System Coil and Cable Assembly 
     In  FIG. 2 , the coil and cable assembly  102  includes an encapsulated coil  202 , a cable  204 , and a connector  206 . The coil  202  includes one or more conductors configured to generate a magnetic or electromagnetic field to mimic drug-simulating signals. As used herein, a drug-simulating signal includes a signal that approximately reproduces magnetic fields that emanate from one or more predetermined chemical, biochemical, and/or biological molecules or agents. The coil  202  may be configured to have various electrical characteristics. Additionally, the coil  202  may be enclosed in a plastic or other composite material to both protect the windings of the coil and to provide a comfortable interface for the wearer. The coils can be flexible and malleable, can have a variety of shapes, can have different sizes or types, and can also include rigid coils. Advantageously, these coils can be externally secured to a patient to provide treatment, as opposed to subcutaneous insertion of the coil into a patient. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates diagrams of variations to the shape of the encapsulated coil  202 . As illustrated, the coils used by the therapy system  100  may include a small circular encapsulated coil  302 , a large circular encapsulated coil  304 , a rectangular encapsulated coil  306 , and/or a substantially square encapsulated coil  308 . Each shape may provide advantages for treating particular parts of the body of the patient. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates examples of coils having various shapes and various dimensions. A variety of dimensions for the coils may be manufactured to more effectively apply therapy to areas to be treated that vary in size. Each of the coils  402   a ,  402   b ,  402   c ,  402   d ,  402   d ,  402   f  can have inner and/or outer diameters or lengths, ranging from just a few centimeters to several feet, according to various implementations. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate before and after diagrams of the cable  204  during manufacture. The cable  204  connects a coil, e.g., coil  202 , and to the connector  206  to enable the controller  104  to transmit various signals to the coil. The cable  204  may include two or more conductors  502   a ,  502   b , a shield  502   c , and a strength-providing member  502   d  (collectively conductors  502 ). Each of the four conductors and members may be configured to perform a particular function. For example, conductors  502   a  and  502   b  may be electrically coupled to either end of the coil  504  to enable current to flow to and from the coil  504  to activate, stimulate, induce, or otherwise excite the coil  504 . Shield conductor  502   c  may be coupled to ground and be configured to provide electromagnetic shielding for the conductors  502   a  and  502   b . Strength member  502   d  may be anchored to the coil  504  and to the connector  206  to provide strain relief to the conductors  502   a - 502   c . In some implementations, the strength member  502   d  is manufactured with a shorter length than the other conductors so that the strength member  502   d  receives a majority of any strain applied between the coil  504  and the connector  206 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , the connector  206  may include three parts, a connector core  506 , and connector housings  508   a  and  508   b . The connector housings  508   a  and  508   b  may encapsulate the connector core  506  to protect the traces and electronic devices carried by the connector core  506 .  FIG. 6  illustrates an implementation of the connector core  506 . The connector core  506  has a controller end  602  and a cable end  604 . The controller end  602  is configured to mateably couple to the controller  104 , and the cable end  604  is configured to provide an interface for the conductors  502 . In some implementations, the strength member  502   d  may be anchored to one or more holes  606  to provide strain relief. The conductor core  506  may also carry a plurality of traces  608  to which the conductors  502   a - c  may be electrically coupled to facilitate communication the controller  104 . 
     As a security feature of the coil and cable assembly  102 , the connector core  506  may also carry an integrated circuit  610 . The integrated circuit  610  may be a microprocessor or may be a stand-alone memory device. The integrated circuit  610  may be configured to communicate with the controller  104  through the controller end  602  using communication protocols such as I2C, 1-Wire, and the like. The integrated circuit  610  may include a digital identification of the coil with which the connector core  506  is associated. The digital identification stored on the integrated circuit  610  may identify electrical characteristics of the coil, such as impedance, inductance, capacitance, and the like. The integrated circuit  610  may also be configured to store and provide additional information such as the length of the conductor of the coil, physical dimensions of the coil, and number of turns of the coil. In some implementations, the integrated circuit  610  includes information to prevent theft or reuse in a knock-off system, such as a unique identifier, cryptographic data, encrypted information, etc. For example, the information on the integrated circuit  610  may include a cryptographic identifier that represents measureable characteristics of the coil and/or the identification of the integrated circuit. If the cryptographic identifier is merely copied and saved onto another integrated circuit, for example, by an unauthorized manufacturer of the coil and cable assembly, the controller  104  may recognize that the cryptographic identifier is illegitimate and may inhibit signal transmissions. In some implementations, the integrated circuit stores one or more encryption keys, digital signatures, stenographic data or other information to enable communications and/or security features associated with public key infrastructure, digital copy protection schemes, etc. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic diagram of the connector core  506 . As shown, according to some implementations, the integrated circuit  610  may be configured to communicate with the controller  104  over a single wire, e.g., from input-output-pin  702 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a method  800  of manufacturing a coil and cable assembly, e.g., the coil and cable assembly  102 , for use in providing a therapy system that is non-invasive, non-thermal, and mobile. 
     At block  802 , an electrical coil is encapsulated in a flexible composite. The flexible composite allows the electrical coil to be comfortably secured to the body of the patient to provide magnetic field therapy. 
     At block  804 , the electric coil is coupled to a connector through a cable to facilitate secure transfer between the connector and the electrical coil. The cable may include multiple conductors that deliver signals between the connector and the electrical coil while providing mechanical strain relief to the signal carrying conductors. 
     At block  806 , an integrated circuit is coupled to the connector, the cable, or the electrical coil. The integrated circuit may be coupled, for example, to the connector via one or more electrical conductors that may or may not also be coupled to the electrical coil. 
     At block  808 , information is stored to the integrated circuit that identifies or uniquely identifies the individual or combined electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit, the connector, the cable, and/or the electrical coil. The information may be a hash or other cryptographically unique identifier that is based on information that can be unique to the integrated circuit and/or the remainder of the coil and cable assembly. This security feature can be used to prevent or deter unauthorized remanufacture of coil and cable assemblies that are compatible with the controller for the therapy system. Additional security features are described herein, e.g., in connection with the operation of the controller for the therapy system. 
     Therapy System Controller 
     Referring briefly back to  FIG. 2 , the therapy system  100  includes a controller  104  to provide an interface to the patient, to distribute and regulate drug-simulating signals to the coil  202 , and to prevent unauthorized copying and/or distribution of the drug-simulating signals. According to various implementations, the controller  104  can include various features such as a housing, a processor, memory, visual and audio interfaces, in addition to other features which are described hereafter in  FIGS. 9-15 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a housing  900  for the controller  104 . The housing  900  may include three parts, a housing front  902  (inclusive of  902   a ,  902   b ), a housing back  904  (inclusive of  904   a ,  904   b ), and a clip  906 . The housing front  902  may have a window  908  through which a visual interface may be viewed or manipulated. Although not shown, the housing front  902  may include various apertures through which buttons, dials, switches, light emitting indicators, and/or a speaker may pass or be disposed. The housing front  902  includes a cut-away or port  910  for coupling the controller  104  to the coil and cable assembly  102 . The housing back  904  may include a number of pegs  912  for mateably attaching/securing the housing back  904  to the housing front  902 . While coupled together, the housing front  902  and the housing back  904  may form a seal along the edge  914 , preventing water, moisture, dust, or other environmental elements from entering the housing  900 . In some implementations, an adhesive or solvent is used to permanently bond the housing front  902  to the housing back  904  to deter or prevent unauthorized tampering with or viewing of the internal electronics, though in other implementations the front and back may be formed to permanently snap-fit together. As shown, the housing back  904  may include a cutout, aperture, or port  916  to allow connection to a recharging device or communication information to/from the controller  104 . The clip  906  may be securely fastened or detachably coupled to slot  918  of the housing back  904  to secure the controller  104  to the wearer. 
       FIGS. 10-15  illustrate schematics of electronics that the controller  104  may include to perform the various functions described above. The various electronics may be integrated into one or more programmable controllers or may include discrete electronic components electrically and communicatively coupled to each other. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates microcontroller circuitry  1000  for operating the controller  104 . The circuitry  1000  includes a microprocessor  1002 , a reset circuit  1004 , and a volatile memory  1006 . The microcontroller may be a standard microprocessor, microcontroller or other similar processor, or alternatively be a tamper-resistant processor to improve security. The microprocessor  1002  may include a number of analog and/or digital communication pins to support communications with electronics that are both external and internal to the housing  900 . The microprocessor  1002  may include USB pins  1008  to support communication via the USB protocol, display pins  1010  to communicate with a visual interface, audio pins  1012  to provide an audio interface, in addition to other data communication pins. 
     Microcontroller  1002  can be configured to use the USB pins  1008  to securely receive prescription files from one or more external devices. Encryption of the prescription file may increase security of the contents of prescription file. Encryption systems regularly suffer from what is known as the key-distribution-problem. The standard assumption in the cryptographic community is that an attacker will know (or can readily discover) the algorithm for encryption and decryption. The key is all that is needed to decrypt the encrypted file and expose its intellectual property. The legitimate user of the information must have the key. Distribution of the key in a secure way attenuates the key-distribution-problem. 
     In some embodiments, the microcontroller  1002  is configured to use the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). AES is a specification for the encryption of electronic data established by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and is used for inter-institutional financial transactions. It is a symmetrical encryption standard (the same key is used for encryption and decryption) and can be secure while the key distribution security is maintained. In some implementations, the microcontroller  1002  uses a 128 bit AES key that is unique to each controller and is stored in non-volatile memory  1100  (illustrated in  FIG. 11 ). The encryption key can be random to reduce the likelihood of forgery, hacking, or reverse engineering. The encryption key can be loaded into non-volatile memory  1100  during the manufacturing process or before the controller is delivered to customers (physicians or patients). Using AES encryption, the prescription file can be encrypted and uploaded to one or more servers to facilitate selective delivery to various controllers  104 . For example, a physician or other medical professional may obtain authorization to download prescription files to controllers for his/her patients. When the physician contacts and logs in to a server to obtain a prescription file, the physician may first need to provide certain information, e.g., may need to identify the target device (the controller), for the server (e.g., by a globally unique ID (GUID) stored in the controller) so that the server can look up the target device in a database and provide a prescription file that is encrypted with a key that is compatible with the controller. The encrypted prescription file can then be loaded into the non-volatile memory  1100  via the microcontroller  1002 , using USB or another communications protocol. Alternatively or additionally, the encrypted prescription file may be stored directly to the non-volatile memory  1100  during the manufacturing process to reduce the likelihood of interception of the prescription file, and before the front and back portions of the housing are sealed together. 
     The microcontroller  1002  can also be configured to log use of the therapy system  100  by a patient. The log can be stored in a non-volatile memory  1100  and downloaded by a medical professional when a patient delivers a controller  104  back to the prescribing medical professional, e.g., after the prescribed time allotment for the controller  104  has depleted. The log can be stored in a variety of data formats or files, such as, separated values, as a text file, or as a spreadsheet to enable a medical professional to display activity reports for the controller  104 . In some implementations, the microcontroller  1002  is configured to log information related to errors associated with coil connections, electrical characteristics of the coil over time, dates and times of use of the therapy system, battery charge durations and discharge traditions, and inductance measurements or other indications of a coil being placed in contact with a patient&#39;s body. The microcontroller  1002  can provide log data or the log file to a medical professional using a USB port or other mode of communication to allow the medical professional to evaluate the quality and/or function of the therapy system and the quantity and/or use of the therapy system by the patient. Notably, the microcontroller  1002  can be configured to log any disruptions in signal delivery and can log any errors, status messages, or other information provided to the user through user interface of the controller  104  (e.g., using the LCD screen). 
     The microcontroller  1002  can be configured to use the volatile memory  1006  to protect the content of the prescription file. In some implementations, the prescription file is encrypted when the microcontroller  1002  transfers the prescription file from an external source into non-volatile memory  1100 . The microcontroller  1002  can then be configured to only store decrypted versions of the content of the prescription file in volatile memory  1006 . By limiting the storage of decrypted content to volatile memory  1006 , the microcontroller  1002  and thus the controller  104  can ensure that decrypted content is lost when power is removed from the microcontroller circuitry  1000 . 
     The microcontroller  1002  can be configured to execute additional security measures to reduce the likelihood that an unauthorized user will obtain the contents of the prescription file. For example, the microcontroller  1002  can be configured to only decrypt the prescription file after verifying that an authorized or legitimate coil and cable assembly  102  has been connected to the controller  104 . As described above, the coil and cable assembly  102  may include an integrated circuit that may store one or more encrypted or not encrypted identifiers for the coil and cable assembly  102 . In some implementations, the microcontroller  1002  is configured to verify that an authorized or prescribed coil and cable assembly  102  is connected to the controller  104 . The microcontroller  1002  may verify the authenticity of a coil and cable assembly  102  by comparing the identifier from the integrated circuit of the coil and cable assembly  102  with one or more entries stored in a lookup table in either volatile memory  1006  or non-volatile memory  1100 . In other implementations, the microcontroller  1002  may be configured to acquire a serial number of the integrated circuit and measure electrical characteristics of the coil and cable assembly  102  and perform a cryptographic function, such as a hash function, on a combination of the serial number and the electrical characteristics. Doing so may deter or prevent an unauthorized user from copying the contents of the integrated circuit of the coil and cable assembly  102  into a duplicate integrated circuit associated with an unauthorized copy of a coil and cable assembly. 
     The microcontroller  1002  can be configured to delete the prescription file from volatile memory  1006  and from non-volatile memory  1100  in response to fulfillment of one or more predetermined conditions. For example, the microcontroller  1002  can be configured to delete the prescription file from memory after the controller has delivered the prescribed drug-simulating signals for a specific period of time, e.g., 14 days. In other embodiments, the microcontroller  1002  can be configured to delete the prescription file from memory after the controller detects a coupling of the controller  104  with an unauthorized coil and cable assembly. The microcontroller  1002  can be configured to delete the prescriptive file after only one coupling with an unauthorized coil and cable assembly, or can be configured to delete the prescription file after a predetermined number of couplings with an unauthorized coil and cable assembly. In some implementations, the microcontroller can be configured to monitor an internal timer and delete the prescription file, for example, one month, two months, or longer after the prescription file has been installed on the controller  104 . 
     The microcontroller  1002  can be configured to delete the prescription file from volatile memory  1006  and from non-volatile memory  1100  in response to input from one or more sensors.  FIG. 12  illustrates a sensor  1202  that may provide a signal to the microcontroller  1002  in response to a physical disruption of the housing  900  of the controller  104 . For example, the sensor  1202  can be a light sensor that detects visible and non-visible wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, the sensor  1202  can be configured to detect infrared, visible light, and/or ultraviolet light. Because the detection of light within the housing  900  can be an indication of intrusion into the housing  900 , the microcontroller  1002  can be configured to delete and/or corrupt the prescription file upon receipt of a signal from the sensor  1202 . In some implementations, the sensor  1202  is a light sensor. In other implementations, the sensor  1202  can be a pressure sensor, a capacitive sensor, a moisture sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like. 
     In response to detection of unauthorized use of the controller  104 , or to increase the user-friendliness of the therapy system  100 , the microcontroller  1002  can use various indicators or interfaces to provide information to a user. As examples,  FIG. 12  illustrates an LED  1204  and an audible buzzer  1206 . The microcontroller  1002  can illuminate the LED  1204  and/or actuate the audible buzzer  1206  in response to user error, unauthorized tampering, or to provide friendly reminders of deviation from scheduled use of the therapy system  100 . Although one LED is illustrated in the LED  1204 , multiple LEDs having various colors can also be used. Additionally, although the audible buzzer  1206  is described as a buzzer, in other implementations, the audible buzzer  1206  can be a vibrating motor, or a speaker that delivers audible commands to facilitate use of the therapy system  100  by sight impaired professionals and/or patients. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an LCD interface  1300  that the microcontroller  1002  can manipulate to interact with a user. The LCD interface  1300  can receive various commands from the microcontroller  1002  at input pins  1302 . In response to inputs received from the microcontroller  1002 , an LCD screen  1304  can be configured to display various messages to a user. In some implementations, the LCD screen  1304  displays messages regarding battery status, duration of prescription use, information regarding the type of prescription being administered, error messages, identification of the coil and cable assembly  102 , or the like. For example, the LCD screen  1304  can provide a percentage or a time duration of remaining battery power. The LCD screen  1304  can also provide a text-based message that notifies the user that the battery charge is low or that the battery is nearly discharged. The LCD screen  1304  can also be reconfigured to provide a name of a prescription (e.g., corresponding name of the physical drug) and/or a body part for which the prescription is to be used. The LCD screen  1304  can also provide notification of elapsed-time or remaining-time for administration of a prescription. If no additional prescription time is authorized, the LCD screen  1304  can notify the user to contact the user&#39;s medical professional. 
     The LCD screen  1304  can be configured to continuously or periodically provide indications regarding the status of the connection between a coil and the controller. In some implementations, the LCD screen  1304  can be configured to display statuses or instructions such as, “coil connected”, “coil not connected”, “coil identified”, “unrecognized coil”, “reconnect coil”, or the like. In some implementations, the LCD screen  1304  can provide a graphical representation of a coil and flash the coil when the coil is connected properly or improperly. Alternatively or additionally, the controller can monitor an impedance from the coil to detect a change, a possible removal, or loss of the coil from the area to be treated, and provide a corresponding error message. The LCD interface  1300 , in other implementations, can be a touch screen that delivers information to the user in addition to receiving instructions or commands from the user. In some implementations, the microcontroller  1002  can be configured to receive input from hardware buttons and switches to, for example, power on or power off the controller  104 . The switch on the device permits an on-off nature of therapy so that patients may selectively switch on and off their therapy if needed. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates signal generation circuitry  1400  that may be used to drive the coil and cable assembly  102  with the drug-simulating signals. The circuitry  1400  may include an audio coder-decoder  1402 , and output amplifier  1404 , and a current monitor  1406 . The audio coder-decoder  1402  may be used to convert digital inputs received from volatile memory  1006 , non-volatile memory  1100 , or from microcontroller  1002  into analog output signals useful for driving the coil and cable assembly  102 . The audio coder-decoder  1402  may be configured to output the analog output signals to the output amplifier  1404 . In some implementations, the output amplifier  1404  is programmable so that the intensity or amplitude of the signals transmitted to the coil may be varied according to the treatment prescribed for the patient. 
     Because the controller  104  can be connected with coils having different sizes, shapes, and numbers of windings, the output amplifier  1404  can be configured to adjust an intensity level of signals delivered to the coil so that each coil delivers a drug-simulating signal that is uniform between different coils, for a particular prescription. The coil dimensions and electrical characteristics can determine the depth and breadth of concentration of the magnetic field, so programmatically adjusting the output intensity of the output amplifier  1404  to deliver uniform drug-simulating signals can advantageously enable a medical professional to select a coil that is appropriate for a particular patient&#39;s body or treatment area, without concern for inadvertently altering the prescription. As described above, the controller  104  can determine the dimensions and electrical characteristics of a coil by reading such information from the integrated circuit  610  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The signal generation circuitry  1400  can be configured to use the dimensional and electrical characteristic information acquired from the coil to programmatically adjust the level of intensity of signals output by the output amplifier  1404 . 
     The output amplifier  1404  may include a low pass filter that significantly reduces or eliminates output signals having a frequency higher than, for example, 50 kHz. In other implementations, the low pass filter can be configured to significantly reduce or eliminate output signals having a frequency higher than 25 kHz. The signal generation circuitry  1400  may use the current monitor  1406  to determine electrical characteristics of the coil and cable assembly  102  and/or to verify that output signal levels remain within specified thresholds. The signal generation circuitry  1400  may also include a connector  1408  that mates with the connector  206  of the coil and cable assembly  102 . The connector  1408  can provide the electrical interface between the microcontroller  1002  and the coil and cable assembly  102 . 
     In other implementations and as noted above, the signal generation circuitry  1400  can also include inductance detection circuitry. The inductance detection circuitry can be configured to detect changes in the coil inductance. The coil inductance changes when the coil is brought into proximity of a patient&#39;s body. By monitoring coil inductance, the signal generation circuitry  1400  and the controller  104  can track and record, i.e., log, a patient&#39;s use of the therapy system  100 . For example, if a medical professional prescribes 10 hours of use of the therapy system  100 , but the controller  104  only logs three hours of use of the therapy system  100 , the medical professional may be in a better position to evaluate a patient&#39;s improving, non-improving or deteriorating condition. In some implementations, the inductance detection circuitry is implemented as a source follower circuit. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates power control circuitry  1500  for receiving and regulating power to the controller  104 . The power control circuitry  1500  includes power input circuitry  1502  and power regulation circuitry  1504 . The power input circuitry  1502  can include a connector  1506 , e.g., a micro-USB connector, to receive power from an external source for recharging a battery  1510 . The power input circuitry  1502  can also include a charging circuit  1508  that monitors a voltage level of the battery  1510  and electrically decouples the battery from the connector  1506  when the battery  1510  is sufficiently charged. The power regulation circuitry  1504  can be used to convert a voltage level of the battery  1510  to a lower voltage for use by the various circuits of the controller  102 . For example, when fully charged, the battery  1510  may have a voltage of about 4.2 to 5 volts, whereas the microcontroller may have an upper voltage threshold of 3.5 volts. The power regulation circuitry  1504  can be configured to convert the higher voltage of the battery, e.g., 4.2 volts, to a lower voltage, e.g., 3.3 volts, that is usable by the electronic devices of the controller  102 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a method  1600  of operating a portable therapy system that may be used to provide magnetic field therapy that is non-invasive, non-thermal, and mobile. 
     At block  1602  an electromagnetic transducer is coupled to a signal generator. The electromagnetic transducer can be a coil having various shapes and sizes according to the size or condition of an ailment to be treated. 
     At block  1604  the electromagnetic transducer is secured to an area of the patient to be treated. The transducer may be secured using elastic bandages, gauze, tape, or the like. 
     At block  1606 , the signal generator checks for an appropriate connection to the electromagnetic transducer. The signal generator can be configured to verify an identification or electrical characteristics of the electromagnetic transducer, such as a resistance or impedance of the transducer to ensure that an appropriate transducer is coupled to the generator. In some implementations, the signal generator can be configured to periodically monitor the electrical characteristics of the electromagnetic transducer to ensure that an appropriate connection is maintained. For example, if the signal generator detects an increase in resistance or decrease in inductance, the signal generator may be configured to cease delivery of signals to the electromagnetic transducer. The signal generator may cease delivery of signals when unexpected electrical characteristics are detected to protect the health and safety of the patient and to prevent unauthorized attempts to acquire generated signals. As discussed above, the signal generator may be configured to log the periodic checks of the electrical characteristics of the electromagnetic transducer and can provide the log data to a medical professional for review. Other security checks may be performed as described herein. 
     At block  1608  the signal generator decrypts a therapeutic signal stored by the signal generator in response to verification that an appropriate connection between the electromagnetic transducer and the signal generator exists. 
     At block  1610  the electromagnetic transducer generates a magnetic signal directed to an area of the patient to be treated. The magnetic signal is representative of the therapeutic signal stored at the signal generator. According to various implementations, the magnetic signal has a frequency in the range of 1 Hz to 22 kHz. 
     In some implementations, a signal from a sample of a drug, biologic, or molecule (chemical, biochemical, biological), may be acquired by placing a sample in an electromagnetic shielding structure and by placing the sample proximate to at least one superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) or magnetometer. The drug sample is placed in a container having both magnetic and electromagnetic shielding, where the drug sample acts as a signal source for molecular signals. Noise is injected into the drug sample in the absence of another signal from another signal source at a noise amplitude sufficient to generate stochastic resonance, where the noise has a substantially uniform amplitude over multiple frequencies. Using the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) or the magnetometer, output radiation from the drug sample is detected and recorded as an electromagnetic time-domain signal composed of drug sample-source radiation superimposed on the injected noise in the absence of the another generated signal. The injecting of noise and detecting of the radiation may be repeated at each of multiple noise levels within a selected noise-level range until the drug sample source radiation is distinguishable over the injected noise. 
       FIGS. 17A and 17B  illustrate example embodiments of headgear  1700  (inclusive of  1700   a  and  1700   b ) that may be used to position or secure a coil  1702  around the cranium of a human patient. The headgear can include a breathable mesh  1704 , elastic straps  1706 , and a band  1708 . The breathable mesh  1704 , elastic straps  1706 , and the band  1708  can provide a comfortable apparatus for carrying, securing, or otherwise positioning the coil  1702  around the cranium of a patient. The headgear  1700  may also include fasteners  1710  (inclusive of  1710   a ,  1710   b ,  1710   c ) for securing the band  1708  over the coil  1702 . The fasteners  1710  may be influenced with Velcro, snaps, or other types of securing devices. In  FIG. 17A , the headgear  1700   a  illustrates the coil  1702  in an exposed or unsecured position. In  FIG. 17B , the headgear  1700   b  illustrates the coil  1702  in a secured position. 
       FIG. 18  is a chart  1800  comparing tumor volume of control mouse subjects to treated mouse subjects in a mouse study model. In the study, 10 tumors, U87 glioblastoma multiforme human cell line solid tumors in mice, were monitored in each of the control group and the treated group. As part of the study, no treatment was administered to the control group, and a system similar to the therapy system  100  delivered drug-simulating signals or radio frequency energy signals to the treatment group. The chart  1800  includes a y-axis  1802  that displays tumor volume in cubic millimeters. The chart  1800  also includes an x-axis  1804  that displays elapsed time on a scale of days. As shown in the mouse study, a possibility exists that administration of particular drug-simulating signals may maintain or reduce a volume of malignant growths or tumors over an extended period of time. 
     Definitions 
     The terms below generally have the following definitions unless indicated otherwise. Such definitions, although brief, will help those skilled in the relevant art to more fully appreciate aspects of the invention based on the detailed description provided herein. Other definitions are provided above. Such definitions are further defined by the description of the invention as a whole (including the claims) and not simply by such definitions. 
     “Radio frequency energy” refers to magnetic fields having frequencies in the range of approximately 1 Hz to 22 kHz. 
     “Magnetic shielding” refers to shielding that decreases, inhibits or prevents passage of magnetic flux as a result of the magnetic permeability of the shielding material. 
     “Electromagnetic shielding” refers to, e.g., standard Faraday electromagnetic shielding, or other methods to reduce passage of electromagnetic radiation. 
     “Faraday cage” refers to an electromagnetic shielding configuration that provides an electrical path to ground for unwanted electromagnetic radiation, thereby quieting an electromagnetic environment. 
     “Time-domain signal” or ‘time-series signal” refers to a signal with transient signal properties that change over time. 
     “Sample-source radiation” refers to magnetic flux or electromagnetic flux emissions resulting from molecular motion of a sample, such as the rotation of a molecular dipole in a magnetic field. Because sample source radiation may be produced in the presence of an injected magnetic-field stimulus, it may also be referred to as “sample source radiation superimposed on injected magnetic field stimulus.” 
     “Stimulus magnetic field” or “magnetic-field stimulus” refers to a magnetic field produced by injecting (applying) to magnetic coils surrounding a sample, one of a number of electromagnetic signals that may include (i) white noise, injected at voltage level calculated to produce a selected magnetic field at the sample of between 0 and 1 G (Gauss), (ii) a DC offset, injected at voltage level calculated to produce a selected magnetic field at the sample of between 0 and 1 G, and/or (iii) sweeps over a low-frequency range, injected successively over a sweep range between at least about 0-1 kHz, and at an injected voltage calculated to produce a selected magnetic field at the sample of between 0 and 1 G. The magnetic field produced at the sample may be readily calculated using known electromagnetic relationships, knowing a shape and number of windings in an injection coil, a voltage applied to coils, and a distance between the injection coils and the sample. 
     A “selected stimulus magnetic-field condition” refers to a selected voltage applied to a white noise or DC offset signal, or a selected sweep range, sweep frequency and voltage of an applied sweep stimulus magnetic field. 
     “White noise” refers to random noise or a signal having simultaneous multiple frequencies, e.g., white random noise or deterministic noise. Several variations of white noise and other noise may be utilized. For example, “Gaussian white noise” is white noise having a Gaussian power distribution. “Stationary Gaussian white noise” is random Gaussian white noise that has no predictable future components. “Structured noise” is white noise that may contain a logarithmic characteristic which shifts energy from one region of the spectrum to another, or it may be designed to provide a random time element while the amplitude remains constant. These two represent pink and uniform noise, as compared to truly random noise which has no predictable future component. “Uniform noise” means white noise having a rectangular distribution rather than a Gaussian distribution. 
     “Frequency-domain spectrum” refers to a Fourier frequency plot of a time-domain signal. 
     “Spectral components” refers to singular or repeating qualities within a time-domain signal that can be measured in the frequency, amplitude, and/or phase domains. Spectral components will typically refer to signals present in the frequency domain. 
     CONCLUSION 
     The system described herein transduces a specific molecule signal to effect a specific charge pathway and may be configured to deliver the effect of chemical, biochemical or biologic therapy to a patient and treat an adverse health condition, without the use of drugs, alternative therapies, etc. For example, the system can transduce RNA sequence signals to regulate metabolic pathways and protein production, both up regulation and down regulation. 
     The system provides numerous other benefits. The system is scalable to provide treatment to a variety of patient regions. The coil, cable and connector are disposable, or the device as a whole with the controller, are preferably provided for a single therapeutic session and for one prescription, so that the device and coil are not to be reused, thereby preventing cross contamination, etc. The switch on the device permits an on-off nature of therapy so that patients may selectively switch on and off their therapy if needed. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” The word “coupled”, as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. 
     The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times. 
     The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
     These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the signal processing system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.