Patent ID: 7429471

Claim:
A method of down-regulating the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases in target tissue, comprising the steps of: generating at least one specific and selective signal having a frequency of approximately 60 kHz that when applied to a field generating device operatively disposed with respect to said target tissue causes the generation of an electric field having an amplitude of about 10-20 mV/cm in the target tissue that is specific and selective for the down-regulation of the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase in said target tissue as measured by mRNA when said electric field is applied to the target tissue containing said matrix metalloproteinase; and exposing the target tissue to the specific and selective electric field generated by said field generating device upon application of said at least one specific and selective signal thereto for a predetermined duration of time from approximately ½ hour to 24 hours per 24 hour period at a predetermined duty cycle from approximately 8.3% to 100% so as to selectively down-regulate the gene expression of the matrix metalloproteinase in said target tissue as measured by mRNA.