Minimally invasive therapeutic system

• US 20060064082A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00075 Motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22015 with details of the transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/002 having a percussion element combined with a passive spacer element for bearing against the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/02 heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 : in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 : using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• 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

The present invention provides a system and method to non-invasively deliver a therapeutic amount of energy to a treatment site to fragment particulate material. More specifically, an external power source is provided for transmitting energy non-invasively through the skin and body of a patient to a medical implant. The medical implant, including an energy focusing device, is surgically positioned at the treatment site. The energy focusing device is configured to receive the transmitted energy and directing therapeutic energy to the treatment site to fragment particulate material.

Claims

1. A medical system for fragmenting particulate material at a treatment site in a body of a patient, the system comprising:

an external energy unit for non-invasively transmitting an energy signal from outside the body of the patient to the treatment site inside the body of the patient; and

a medical implant positionable within the body of the patient adjacent the treatment site and including an energy focusing device configured to receive the energy signal and direct a therapeutic energy into the treatment site to fragment particulate material.

2. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the external energy unit is positioned on a skin portion of the body of the patient proximal to the medical implant

3. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the external energy unit transmits an energy signal selected from the group consisting of an acoustic signal, a magnetic signal, an RF signal, an EM signal, an ESW, and a microwave signal.

4. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the medical implant further comprises a plurality of energy focusing devices positionable about the treatment site.

5. The medical system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of energy focusing devices direct focused therapeutic energy into the treatment site to fragment the particulate material.

6. The medical system of claim 4 wherein the external energy unit provides the energy signal at a plurality of frequencies.

7. The medical system of claim 4 wherein the external energy unit provides the energy signal at a modulated frequency.

8. The medical system of claim 7 wherein each of the energy focusing devices is attuned to a unique corresponding frequency of energy signals to direct therapeutic energy into the treatment site to fragment the particulate material.

9. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the medical implant is surgically positioned at the treatment site.

10. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the energy focusing device converts the energy signal to a convergent point shockwave.

11. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the energy focusing device converts the energy signal to a mechanical vibration.

12. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the energy focusing device converts the energy signal to an impulse force.

13. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the energy focusing device converts the energy signal to heat.

14. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the energy focusing device is a piezoelectric device.

15. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the energy focusing device is a shaped wire.

16. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the medical implant further comprises a sensor assembly.

17. The medical system of claim 16 wherein the sensor assembly is activatable by the energy signal from the external energy unit.

18. The medical system of claim 17 wherein the external energy unit provides:

a first energy signal at a first frequency to activate the sensor assembly; and

a second energy signal at a second frequency to activate the energy focusing device to fragment the particulate material.

19. The medical system of claim 18 wherein the sensor assembly is selected from the group consisting of a flow sensor assembly, a temperature sensor assembly, a pressure sensor assembly, and a pressure sensor assembly.

20. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the medical implant further comprises a power supply operably connected to the energy focusing device.

21. The medical system of claim 20 wherein the power supply comprises a rechargeable battery.

22. The medical system of claim 21 wherein the power supply further comprises a recharging unit.

23. The medical system of claim 22 wherein the recharging unit is configured to receive the energy signal from the external energy unit to recharge the battery.

24. The medical system of claim 20 wherein the medical implant further comprises a controller unit operably connected to the power supply and the energy focusing device, wherein the controller unit controls the operation of the energy focusing device.

25. The medical system of claim 24 wherein the medical implant further comprises a sensor assembly operably connected to the controller unit and the power supply and the energy focusing device.

26. The medical system of claim 25 wherein the controller unit comprises an electronically writeable memory for storing sensor assembly data and treatment data.

27. The medical system of claim 26 wherein the controller unit comprises a transmitter.

28. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the medical implant is a stent.

29. The medical system of claim 28 wherein the stent is coated with a pharmaceutical agent.

30. The medical system of claim 28 wherein the stent includes a biodegradable coating having a pharmaceutical agent mixed therein.

31. The medical system of claim 30 wherein the stent includes a plurality of biodegradable coating layers, each of the biodegradable coating layers having a pharmaceutical agent mixed therein.

32. The medical system of claim 1 wherein the energy focusing device comprises a plurality of first energy focusers responsive to a first range of frequencies and a plurality of second energy focusers responsive to a second range of frequencies, the first range being distinct from the second range.

33. The medical system of claim 32 wherein the first energy focusers are located on a first portion of the medical implant and the second energy focusers are located on a second portion of the medical implant.

34. A medical system for fragmenting particulate material at a treatment site in a body of a patient, the system comprising:

at least one external energy unit for non-invasively transmitting an energy signal to the treatment site in the body of the patient;

at least one sensor assembly surgically positionable at the treatment site; and

at least one energy focusing device surgically positionable at the treatment site and configured to transmit a focused therapeutic energy into the treatment site to fragment the particulate material.

35. The medical system of claim 34 wherein the at least one sensor assembly is activated by the energy signal.

36. The medical system of claim 34 wherein the at least one energy focusing device is configured to receive the energy signal and direct therapeutic energy into the treatment site to fragment the particulate material.

37. The medical system of claim 34 further comprising a power supply surgically positionable at the treatment site and operably connected to the at least one sensor assembly and at least one energy focusing device.

38. The medical system of claim 36 wherein the power supply comprises a rechargeable battery.

39. The medical system of claim 38 wherein the power supply further comprises a recharging unit, wherein the recharging unit receives the energy signal from the external energy unit to recharge the battery.

40. The medical system of claim 37 further comprising a controller unit surgically positionable at the treatment site and operably connected to the power supply, the at least one sensor assembly, and at least one energy focusing device, wherein the controller unit controls the operation of the at least one sensor assembly and the at least one energy focusing device.

41. The medical system of claim 40 wherein the controller unit comprises an electronically writeable memory for storing sensor assembly data and treatment data.

42. The medical system of claim 40 wherein the controller unit comprises a transmitter.

43. A method for fragmenting particulate material at a treatment site in a body of a patient, the method comprising:

surgically positioning a medical implant inside the body of a patient at the treatment site;

positioning an external energy unit on a skin portion of the body of a patient proximal the treatment site; and

transmitting an energy signal non-invasively through the body of the patient to the medical implant, wherein the medical implant focuses the energy signal into the treatment site.