| abstract |
Methods, devices, systems and implementations for induction heating of external metal implants are disclosed. External metal implants are heated via AMF pulses to ensure that the surface of the external metal implant is heated in a uniform manner. As the surface temperature of the outer metal implant rises, acoustic features can be detected by acoustic sensors that can indicate that the tissue can be heated to an undesirable level approaching the boiling point. Once these acoustic features are detected, the AMF pulses can be blocked to allow the implant surface temperature to cool before applying the additional AMF pulses. In this manner, the surface temperature of the outer metal implant can be uniformly heated to a temperature suitable for treating the bacterial biofilm accumulated on the surface of the outer metal implant without damaging the surrounding tissue. AMF pulse therapy can be combined with antibiotic / antimicrobial therapy to reduce the time and / or antibiotic dosage required to remove biofilm from metal implants. |