Patent Publication Number: US-2004049229-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for genetic and biological enhancement utilizing a radio frequency, broadspectrum to enhance cellular mitosis and to increase vascular dialation by the increase of cellular transfer rates

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The subject matter disclosed generally relates to the field of treating an organic substance such as a cell with radio frequency energy.  
       [0003] 2. Background Information  
       [0004] There have been various medical procedures that implement electrical or electro-magnetic energy. For example, chemotherapy techniques employ the bombardment of cancerous tissue with electro-magnetic energy in the x-ray frequency range. The x-ray energy destroys the cancerous tissue.  
       [0005] There have also been developed procedures to stimulate cell production using microwave frequency energy. For example, there is a procedure wherein energy is directed toward tissue to stimulate DNA reproduction. The frequency of the microwave energy wave is selected to stimulate the reproduction of DNA under the given conditions of the procedure. Such a technique requires extensive empirical analysis to determine the correct frequency for each particular tissue. Additionally, the apparatus and environmental control system required to properly stimulate DNA reproduction with the technique is relatively expensive and would be cost prohibitive for most medical service providers. It would be desirable to provide a relatively inexpensive system that can stimulate cell division.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] A medical method for treating an organic substance that includes applying a broad spectrum of radio frequency energy to the substance.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007] FIGS.  1  is a schematic of an apparatus that can apply a broad spectrum of radio frequency energy to an organic substance;  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is a graph showing a waveform created by the apparatus;  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is an illustration showing the broad spectrum of radio frequency being applied to a medical device;  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is a schematic of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus;  
     [0011]FIG. 5 is a schematic of an embodiment of an apparatus for emitting RF energy into tissue.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0012] Disclosed is a medical method for treating an organic substance such as a cell. The method includes applying a broad spectrum of radio frequency energy to the organic substance. The broad spectrum includes signals extending across a range of RF frequencies. By way of example, the organic substance may be tissue wherein the RF energy stimulates cell reproduction.  
     [0013] Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIG. 1 shows an apparatus  10  for applying a broad spectrum of radio frequency energy to an organic substance  12 . The apparatus may include a full wave rectifier  14  that converts AC power from a power source  16  to a DC voltage level. The rectifier  14  may include a plurality of diodes  18  that are coupled to an output capacitor C 1 . The output capacitor C 1  is coupled to a modulation circuit  20 . The modulation circuit  20  modulates the DC voltage provided by the rectifier  14 . Although a rectifier  14  is shown and described, it is to be understood that the modulation circuit  20  may modulate an AC signal.  
     [0014]FIG. 2 shows a waveform that can be applied to the organic substance. The waveform may include a series of pulses modulated onto the DC signal. The frequency and width of the pulses can be varied by the modulation circuit  20 . The frequency of the pulses is in the radio frequency (RF) range between 50 kilohertz (Khz) and 200 megahertz (Mhz). The modulation circuit  20  generates a number of pulses across a broad spectrum of the RF range.  
     [0015] The broad spectrum signal may be created by generating a sequence of pulses, wherein each set of pulses in the sequence has a different frequency. For example, a series of pulses having a frequency of 50 Khz may be generated followed by a series of pulses at 52.5 Khz and so forth and so on. Although an orderly sequence of pulses is described, it is to be understood that the modulation circuit  20  may generate a random or pseudo-random series of pulses having varying frequencies. Alternatively, the modulation circuit  20  may be replaced with a noise generator that generates electrical noise across the RF frequency spectrum.  
     [0016] Referring to FIG. 1, the modulation circuit  20  may include an oscillator  22  that drives a switch  24 . The oscillator  22  may be a voltage controlled variable waveform generator. By way of example, the oscillator  22  may produce a square wave or a sawtooth waveform.  
     [0017] The switch  24  may be a common collector emitter follower circuit which contains an npn bipolar junction transistor Q 1 . The base junction of the transistor Q 1  is connected to DC biasing resistors R 1  and R 2 . The biasing resistors R 1  and R 2  are coupled to the oscillator  22  by a by-pass capacitor C 2 . The collector junction of the transistor Q 1  is connected to a collector resistor R 3  and a by-pass capacitor C 3 . The emitter junction of the transistor Q 1  is connected to a emitter resistor R 4 . The emittor resistor R 4  is coupled to a transmitter  26 .  
     [0018] The transmitter  26  may be an antenna that emits electro-magnetic waves which are applied to the organic substance  12 . Alternatively, the transmitter  26  may be an electrode that passes current directly through the organic substance  12 , or other means for applying the broad spectrum radio frequency signal to the substance  12 .  
     [0019] The oscillator  22  may be coupled to a controller  28  by a digital to analog converter (ADC)  30 . The controller  28  provides output commands to vary the frequency of the oscillator  22  and the waveform of the modulation circuit  20 . The ADC  30  converts the binary output of the controller  28  to an analog signal. The frequency of the analog signal varies in accordance with the binary output of the controller  28 . The controller  28  operates in accordance with a software/firmware routine that generates a frequency sweep. The frequency sweep may include a series of output commands from the controller  28  to continuously vary the output frequency of the modulation circuit across the RF frequency spectrum.  
     [0020] In an experiment where a broad spectrum of RF incubated cells (A+T-20 cells) that make and store beta-endorphins within secretory granules there was observed a 2× increase in the level of beta-endorphin and a decrease in the level of beta-LPH. It is believed that the beta-LPH is processed into beta-endorphins by a molecular scissors known as proprotein convertase.  
     [0021] The organic substance may be human tissue, wherein the application of the broad spectrum RF signal induces mitosis and cell division. It is believed that the broad spectrum RF signal may be used to generate peptide hormones such as beta-endorphins. The broad spectrum RF signal may also enhance blood flow. This procedure may be used to stimulate stem cell reproduction.  
     [0022]FIG. 3 shows an application for using the apparatus  10 . A medical device  32  may be implanted into a patient. By way of example, the medical device  32  may be a stent attached to an arterial wall. The device  32  is typically constructed from a metal material that will receive electro-magnetic waves transmitted by the apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  transmits the broad spectrum RF signal which is received by the medical device  32 . The medical device  32  is excited by the electro-magnetic signal and transfers the RF energy into the adjoining tissue and blood passing through the artery. The medical device  32  functions as a focusing element for the RF energy transmitted by the apparatus  10 . The transfer of RF energy may also induce cell division of the adjacent tissue to enhance tissue attachment to the device  32 .  
     [0023]FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the apparatus  10 ′. The apparatus  10 ′ is a motor control circuit modified to operate at a speed that will generate noise across the RF frequency spectrum. The apparatus  10 ′ includes a pulse width modulator  100  connected to a transistor T 1  by a pair of diodes D 1  and D 2  and resistor R 1 . The transistor T 1  functions as a switch for a signal applied to the organic substance  12 . The voltage across the organic substance is limited by diode D 3 . The Vcc input to the modulator  100  may be connected to a diode D 4  and filtering capacitors C 1  and C 2 . The Vref pin of the modulator  100  may be connected to a RC circuit containing resistors R 2 , R 3  and R 4 , capacitors C 3  and C 4  and a variable resistor R v1 . The + pin of the controller may be connected to resistor R 5  and variable resistor R v2 . The variable resistor R v2  may be connected to an input pin IN.  
     [0024] The internal clock of the controller  100  may be connected to resistor R 6 , capacitor C 5  and a variable resistor R v3 . The apparatus may include a soft start feature defined by transistor T 2 , capacitors C 6  and C 7 , and resistors R 7 , R 8 , R 9  and R 10 .  
     [0025] The modulator  100  may generate a plurality of output signals at pins  11  and  14 . The output signals switch the transistor T 1  between on and off states to create a series of pulses. The output signals vary so that the apparatus creates a series of pulses that vary across the RF frequency spectrum. The current may flow directly through the tissue  12  between electrodes  102  and  104 .  
     [0026]FIG. 5 shows an embodiment for applying the RF energy to tissue. A conductive wire  200  is routed along the bottom of a petri dish  202 . The wire  200  terminates at a pass of electrodes  204 . The electrodes  204  are connected to a console  206  that contains a modulation circuit. The wire functions as an antennae to emit RF energy that is absorbed by tissue placed in the petri dish  202 .  
     [0027] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.