Wearable, noninvasive, pulsed shortwave (radiofrequency) therapy for analgesia and opioid sparing following outpatient surgery: A proof-of-concept case series

Smartphone administered pulsed radio frequency energy therapy for expedited cutaneous wound healing

Pulsed radio frequency energy (PRFE) therapy is a non-invasive, electromagnetic field-based treatment modality successfully used in clinical applications. However, conventional PRFE devices are often bulky, expensive, and require extended treatment durations, limiting patient adherence and efficacy. Here, we present a lightweight, cost-effective wearable PRFE system consisting of a flexible electronic bandage and a smartphone. The bandage, mainly composed of an NFC Frequency Doubler (NFD) and a Radiofrequency Energy Radiator (RER), is powered and administered by the smartphone to generate 27.12 MHz radio wave pulses, for simplified, smartphone-enabled PRFE therapy. Its ultra-flexible, battery-free design supports personalized wound care at a low-cost ( Collapse

Key Words

• therapeutics
• biomedical engineering

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Grants

• Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission
• Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (20210331163905001), High Level of Special Funds (G03034K002).

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Affiliation(s)

Mengxia Yu Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Hongjia Yang Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Haoteng Ye Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Shuhuang Lin School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Yujie Lu Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Haoqiang Deng Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Lulu Xu The Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
Yongxin Guo Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
John S Ho Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Terry Tao Ye Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China. Institute of Nanoscience and Applications, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.

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Collaborators Collapse

A new neuromodulation method in chronic migraine; non-ınvasive pulsed radiofrequency, a single-blinded, randomised, controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Non-invasive pulsed radiofrequency (NipRF) therapy, a neuromodulation method for peripheral nerves, is a new treatment modality for pain. We aimed to show the changes in pain severity and frequency per month in chronic migraine with NipRF treatment.

METHODS

We treated patients diagnosed with chronic migraine according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders III beta diagnostic criteria. In half of the patients, we applied pulsed radiofrequency (pRF) treatment with transcutaneous electrodes to the greater occipital nerve (GON) trace. In the other half, we applied the GON block under ultrasound guidance. The Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) was administered to the participants, and those with scores > 2 were included in the study. Pain intensity and frequency were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and a headache diary completed before and 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

When both groups were compared, the pre- and post-treatment VAS scores and headache frequencies were similar. Comparing the pre-treatment and post-treatment values within the groups, VAS scores and headache frequency decreased significantly after treatment in both groups (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, we observed that NipRF treatment is safe and effective for treating chronic migraine. Pain intensity and frequency decreased with NipRF treatment, similar to that in the GON block group.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05499689, Date: 08/11/2022.