Pressure-pulse therapy apparatus

• US 20040010211A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medispec Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Medispec Ltd.
• Inventors: Spector, Avner
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/006 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0069 Reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A pressure-pulse therapy apparatus of the present invention includes a dome-shaped reflector at least one ring section, a central x-axis, an open end, a flexible diaphragm capping the open end, a fluid medium within the reflector and diaphragm, a pressure-pulse source immersed in the fluid medium and located on said x-axis for generating a primary pressure pulse, and a power supply for the pressure-pulse source. The reflector includes a center section that has a predetermined first curvature and associated reflective characteristics to reflect the primary pressure pulse to form a first subordinate pressure pulse of a compound pressure pulse. The ring section is substantially concentric with said center section and has a predetermined second curvature and associated reflective characteristics to reflect the primary pressure pulse to form at least one additional subordinate pressure pulse of the compound pressure pulse.

Claims

1. Pressure-pulse therapy apparatus, comprising:

a disk-like acoustic lens, having;

a center section, having predetermined first curvature and focusing characteristics associated therewith, and formed to direct a primary pressure pulse propagating thereon, so as to form a first subordinate pressure pulse of a compound pressure pulse; and

a plurality of ring sections, substantially concentric with said center section, having predetermined at least one second curvature and focusing characteristics associated therewith, and formed to direct a primary pressure pulse propagating thereon, so as to form a plurality of subordinate pressure pulses of said compound pressure pulse;

proximal and distal sides with respect to a tissue for treatment;

an enclosure with an open end;

a flexible diaphragm, which caps said open end;

a fluid medium, contained within said enclosure, for facilitating propagation of the pressure pulses;

a pressure-pulse source, which includes an electromagnetic pressure-pulse source, immersed in the medium, located at said distal side of said acoustic lens, for generating a collimated primary pressure pulse that propagates in said medium, and impinges on said acoustic lens; and

a power supply, which supplies power to said pressure-pulse source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined curvatures and focusing characteristics are determined by mathematical equations for governing a shape of said plurality of ring sections and a shape of said center section.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined curvatures and focusing characteristics further include a predetermined zone at which both said first subordinate pressure pulse and said plurality of subordinate pressure pulses are directed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined curvatures and focusing characteristics include:

a predetermined point at which said first subordinate pressure pulse is directed; and

a predetermined point at which at least one of said plurality of subordinate pressure pulses is directed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined curvatures and focusing characteristics include:

a predetermined zone at which said first subordinate pressure pulse is directed; and

a predetermined zone at which at least one of said plurality of subordinate pressure pulses is directed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined curvatures and focusing characteristics further include a predetermined phase difference between said first subordinate pressure pulse and at least one of said plurality of subordinate pressure pulses.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said phase difference is between 0.5 and 1 microsecond.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of ring sections, having predetermined curvature and focusing characteristics associated therewith, are formed to reflect a primary pressure pulse propagating thereon, so as to form a plurality of additional subordinate pressure pulses of said compound pressure pulse.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of additional subordinate pressure pulses of said compound pressure pulse further include predetermined phase differences between them.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of ring sections comprise substantially ellipsoid ring sections, each having proximal and distal focal points with respect to said acoustic lens, wherein said proximal focal points of said plurality of ring sections substantially coincide,

wherein said distal focal points of said plurality of ring sections are adjacent to each other, and wherein said focal point of said center section and said proximal focal points of said plurality of ring sections substantially coincide.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said center section is a cutout section that allows a portion of said primary pressure pulse to pass through it, undisturbed.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic pressure-pulse source is a disk-like source.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said acoustic lens is composed of a polymer material.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support fixture for supporting a portion of a body of a subject to be treated.

15. Pressure-pulse therapy apparatus, comprising:

a dome-shaped reflector, having;

a center section, having predetermined first curvature and focusing characteristics associated therewith, and formed to direct a primary pressure pulse propagating thereon, so as to form a first subordinate pressure pulse of a compound pressure pulse; and

a plurality of ring sections, substantially concentric with said center section, having predetermined second curvature and focusing characteristics associated therewith, and formed to direct a primary pressure pulse propagating thereon, so as to form a plurality of subordinate pressure pulses of said compound pressure pulse;

proximal and distal sides with respect to a tissue for treatment;

an enclosure with an open end;

a flexible diaphragm, which caps said open end;

a fluid medium, contained within said enclosure, for facilitating propagation of the pressure pulses;

a pressure-pulse source, which includes an electromagnetic pressure-pulse source, immersed in the medium, located at said distal side of said dome-shaped reflector, for generating a collimated primary pressure pulse that propagates in said medium, and impinges on said dome-shaped reflector; and

a power supply, which supplies power to said pressure-pulse source.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of said plurality of ring sections, having predetermined curvature and focusing characteristics associated therewith, are formed to reflect a primary pressure pulse propagating thereon, so as to form a plurality of additional subordinate pressure pulses of said compound pressure pulse.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said plurality of additional subordinate pressure pulses of said compound pressure pulse further include predetermined phase differences between them.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said plurality of ring sections comprise substantially ellipsoid ring sections, each having proximal and distal focal points with respect to said reflector, wherein said proximal focal points of said plurality of ring sections substantially coincide,

wherein said distal focal points of said plurality of ring sections are adjacent to each other, and wherein said focal point of said center section and said proximal focal points of said plurality of ring sections substantially coincide.