[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
THERAPEUTICALLY TREATING BONE
FRACTURES AND OSTEOPOROSIS
[75] Inventors: Kenneth J. McLeod, Stony Brook;
Clinton T. Rubin, Port Jefferson, both of N.Y.
[73] Assignee: Exogen, Inc., Piscataway, N.J.
[21] Appl. No.: 09/323,976 [22] Filed: Jun. 2, 1999
Related U.S. Application Data
[62] Division of application No. 09/022,454, Feb. 12, 1998 [60] Provisional application No. 60/037,682, Feb. 12, 1997.
[51] Int. C I. A61B 17/56
[52] U.S. CI 606/58; 606/60
[58] Field of Search 607/51, 52; 606/58,
606/53, 54, 60
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS Re. 35,129 12/1995 Pethica et al
4,432,361 2/1984 Christensen et al 607/52
4,889,111 12/1989 Ben-Dov 607/51
5,191,880 3/1993 McLeod et al 607/51
Primary Examiner—-William E. Kamm
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dilworth & Barrese
[57] ABSTRACT
A system for therapeutic treatment of bone includes a source of energy for stimulating a bone, a feedback loop for receiving response information from the bone generated by the stimulation and an adjustment device for adjusting the energy source according to predetermined criteria. A method of therapeutically treating bone includes the steps of providing a source of energy for stimulating a bone, feedback means for receiving response information from the bone generated by the stimulation and adjustment means for adjusting the energy source according to predetermined criteria, applying energy to cyclically stimulate the bone, collecting response information from the bone due to the stimulation, comparing the response information to the predetermined criteria and adjusting the energy source to obtain a response in accordance with the predetermined criteria. The system and method ensure, augment and accelerate the bone healing process.
12 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
