Patent ID: 8485960

Claim:
A method for micro-exercise of bone mass, the method comprising: providing a frame substantially rigid and defining a first space sized to receive a bodily member of a human; providing a pad protecting the bodily member from at least one of contact and pressure applied by the frame to the bodily member, the pad comprising upper and lower covers and a core positioned between the upper and lower covers; providing a plurality of coils spaced apart and each wound around a compliant spool embedded in the core of the pad and positioned having upper and lower flanges thereof facing the upper and lower covers of the pad, respectively, and effective to pass electromagnetic flux into the first space; providing a controller operably connected to the plurality of coils and delivering power thereto; connecting a battery electrically to the controller to provide power to the controller; immobilizing the bodily member of a subject within the first space, the bodily member containing a broken bone integral thereto; programming the controller to provide power to the plurality of coils in a first sequence; controlling, by the controller, delivery of power to energize the plurality of coils; delivering to each coil of the plurality of coils power in accordance with the programming of the controller; and delivering, by the each coil, an electromagnetic flux into the first space proximate the each coil in accordance with the first sequence; exercising cells of the broken bone within the broken bone by stimulating with the electromagnetic flux while maintaining the broken bone immobile with respect to the first space; maintaining the bodily member in the first space until the broken bone has healed; and continuing a repetition of the delivering of the electromagnetic flux at least from about daily to about weekly while the bodily member is confined in the first space.