Patent ID: 7374916

Claim:
A method of up-regulating the gene expression of aggrecan mRNA in cartilage tissue, comprising the steps of: generating at least one specific and selective signal having a frequency from 30 kHz to 120 kHz that when applied to a field generating device operatively disposed with respect to the cartilage tissue causes the generation of an electric field having an amplitude of about 10-40 mV/cm in the cartilage tissue that is specific and selective for the up-regulation of the gene expression of aggrecan mRNA when said electric field is applied to the cartilage tissue containing said aggrecan mRNA; and exposing the cartilage tissue to the specific and selective electric field generated by said field generating device upon the application of said at least one specific and selective signal thereto for a predetermined duration of time of about ½ hour or about 24 hours per 24 hour period at a predetermined duty cycle from approximately 1%-100% so as to selectively up-regulate the gene expression of aggrecan mRNA in the cartilage tissue.