Shockwave generating system

• US 20050015023A1
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moshe Ein-Gal
• Original Assignee: Moshe Ein-Gal
• Inventors: Ein-Gal, Moshe
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,904 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: A61B 17/2258 integrated in a central portion of the shock wave apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22027 Features of transducers

Abstract

A shockwave generating system comprising a first shockwave source device that is formed with an aperture through which a second shockwave source device is adapted to transmit shockwaves. The second shockwave source device may be disposed at least partially in the aperture.

Claims

1. A shockwave generating system comprising:

a first shockwave source device formed with an aperture through which a second shockwave source device is adapted to transmit shockwaves.

2. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said second shockwave source device is at least partially disposed in said aperture.

3. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said first shockwave source device is axisymmetric.

4. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said aperture is formed on an axis of symmetry of said first shockwave source device.

5. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein an axis of wave propagation of said first shockwave source device is generally coaxial with an axis of wave propagation of said second shockwave source device.

6. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein an axis of wave propagation of said first shockwave source device is generally not coaxial with an axis of wave propagation of said second shockwave source device.

7. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second shockwave source devices are arranged with respect to one another to focus on a common focus.

8. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second shockwave source devices are arranged with respect to one another to focus on different foci.

9. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second shockwave source devices each comprise a membrane, a propagation medium and an excitation device that moves said membrane to generate a shockwave that propagates in said propagation medium, wherein the propagation media of said first and second shockwave source devices are the same.

10. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second shockwave source devices each comprise a membrane, a propagation medium and an excitation device that moves said membrane to generate a shockwave that propagates in said propagation medium, wherein the propagation media of said first and second shockwave source devices are not the same.

11. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second shockwave source devices comprises at least one of an electrohydraulic shockwave source device, an electromagnetic shockwave source device and a piezoelectric shockwave source device.

12. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second shockwave source devices comprises at least one of a spherical shockwave source device, a planar shockwave source device, a point shockwave source device, a conical shockwave source device and a cylindrical shockwave source device.

13. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller that triggers said first and second shockwave source devices in synchrony.

14. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a focusing device that focuses shockwaves from at least one of said first and said second shockwave source devices to a focus.

15. The shockwave generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller that triggers said first and second shockwave source devices at different times.

16. A shockwave source device comprising:

an excitable member and an excitation device both shaped in the form of three-dimensional curved surfaces.

17. The shockwave source device according to claim 16, wherein said excitable member comprises a membrane and said excitation device comprises a coil in juxtaposition with said membrane.

18. The shockwave source device according to claim 16, wherein said excitation device excites said excitable member to generate shockwaves that are focused to a focus due to the shape of said excitable member and said excitation device.

19. The shockwave source device according to claim 16, wherein said excitable member and said excitation device have the shape of at least one of a partial spheroid, a partial ellipsoid and a partial paraboloid.