PRESSURE PULSE/SHOCK WAVE APPARATUS FOR GENERATING WAVES HAVING PLANE, NEARLY PLANE, CONVERGENT OFF TARGET OR DIVERGENT CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20080146971A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Softwave Tissue Regeneration Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: General Patent, LLC (Tissue Regeneration Technologies LLC)
• Inventors: Schaden, Wolfgang, Warlick, John, Schultheiss, Reiner, Uebelacker, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 8,257,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2251 characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/043 producing shock waves G10K15/046, G10K15/06 take precedence; generating seismic energy G01V1/02

Abstract

An apparatus for generating pressure pulse/shock waves (PP/SWs) is disclosed which comprises a pressure pulse/shock wave (PP/SW) source, a housing enclosing said PP/SW source, and an exit window from which wave fronts of waves generated by said PP/SW source emanate. The wave fronts have plane, nearly plane, convergent off target or divergent characteristics. In one embodiment, an extracorporeal shock wave system provides a planar wave for the treatment of tissue. A parabolic reflector is provided in order to propagate the planar wave through a membrane and to the tissue of a human subject. A piezoelectric, electrohydraulic or electromagnetic source may be used to develop the wave.

Claims

1. Apparatus for generating pressure pulse/shock waves comprising:

a pressure pulse/shock wave (PP/SW) source,

a housing enclosing said PP/SW source, and

an exit window from which wave fronts of waves generated by said PP/SW source emanate,

wherein said wave fronts have plane, nearly plane, convergent off target or divergent characteristics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said PP/SW source comprises

a pressure pulse/shock wave generating element for generating pressure pulses/shock waves,

a focusing element for focusing said waves into a focus volume outside the focusing element,

said apparatus further comprising a movable elongated mechanical element having a longitudinal axis,

wherein said focus volume is situated on or at said longitudinal axis, and

wherein said movable elongated mechanical element is movable to extend to or beyond said focus volume so that wave fronts with divergent characteristics emanate from said exit window.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said movable elongated element is part of said housing and said exit window is a window of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said focusing element is an acoustic lens, a reflector or a combination thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said PP/SW source comprises a pressure pulse/shock wave generating element for generating pressure pulses/shock waves, and wherein said waves emanate from said exit window without being focused by a focusing element.

6. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said PP/SW source comprises an electro hydraulic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element.

7. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said PP/SW source comprises an electromagnetic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element.

8. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said PP/SW source comprises a piezoceramic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said electro hydraulic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element comprising at least two electrodes,

said PP/SW source further comprising

a generalized paraboloid according to the formula

yⁿ=2px,

wherein

x and y are carthesian coordinates,

p/2 is a focal point measured from an apex of the generalized paraboloid, and

n is about 1.2<

2 or 2<

about 2.8, with n≠

2,

said electrodes being positioned within said generalized paraboloid, and wherein a spark between tips of said electrodes is, with about +/−

5 mm of variance, generated at the focal point p/2 of the generalized paraboloid.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein burn down of the electrode tips (z) is compensated by the selection of (p+/−

z) and n so that the resulting generalized paraboloid has a configuration between a paraboloid defined by formula y²=2(p+z)x and a paraboloid defined by formula y²=2(p−

z)x.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said electrodes is adjustable.

12. Apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element is an electromagnetic flat or curved emitter emitting waves having nearly plane or divergent characteristics, and wherein said waves emanate from said exit window without being modified by a lens.

13. Apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element is an electromagnetic flat emitter emitting waves having nearly plane characteristics, and wherein said PP/SW source further comprises

a lens for focusing said waves in a first focal point, wherein divergent waves are created behind said focal point emanate from said exit window.

14. Apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element is an electromagnetic flat emitter emitting waves having nearly plane characteristics and wherein said PP/SW source further comprises a lens for de-focusing said waves so that waves with divergent wave characteristics emanate from said exit window.

15. Apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element is an electromagnetic cylindrical emitter and wherein said PP/SW source further comprises at least one reflecting element and/or at least one lens.

16. Apparatus of claim 8, wherein said piezoceramic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element is a piezoceramic flat or curved emitter emitting waves having nearly plane or divergent characteristics, and wherein said waves emanate from said exit window without being modified by a lens.

17. Apparatus of claim 8, wherein said piezoceramic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element is a piezoceramic flat emitter emitting waves having nearly plane characteristics, and wherein said PP/SW source further comprises a lens for focusing said waves in a first focal point, wherein divergent waves generated behind said first focal point emanate at said exit window.

18. Apparatus of claim 8, wherein said piezoceramic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element is a piezoceramic flat emitter emitting waves having nearly plane characteristics and wherein said PP/SW source further comprises a lens for de-focusing said waves so that waves with divergent wave characteristics emanate from said exit window.

19. Apparatus of claim 8, wherein aid piezoceramic pressure pulse/shock wave generating element is a piezoceramic cylindrical emitter and wherein said PP/SW source further comprises at least one reflecting element and/or at least one lens.

20. A therapeutic shock wave device comprising:

a reflector housing;

a parabolic reflector disposed in the housing; and

an energy source disposed within the parabolic reflector for developing a shock wave so that a planar shock wave is formed by the parabolic reflector and emanates from the housing.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the parabolic reflector is shaped and dimensioned to provide the planar shock wave having a power density level to produce a tissue reaction in a subject to which the wave is administered.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the shock wave has a power density in the range of approximately 0.01 mJ/mm.sup.2 to 1.0 mJ/mm.sup.2.

23. The device of claim 20, and further comprising a coupling member which intersects the reflector along a circle having a diameter in the range of approximately 20 mm to 100 mm.

24. The device of claim 20 wherein the parabolic reflector has an origin point and a focal point spaced from the origin point a distance in the range of approximately 3 mm to 10 mm.

25. The device of claim 20 wherein the energy source is an electrohydraulic source.

26. The device of claim 20 wherein the energy source has a propagation point centered approximately at a focal point of the parabolic reflector.

27. The device of claim 20 wherein the energy source comprises a pair of electrode tips connected to a capacitor.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the energy source has a propagation point centered approximately between the electrode tips.

29. The device of claim 20 wherein the parabolic reflector includes a cavity having an opening and the opening sealed by a membrane.

30. The device of claim 28 wherein the cavity contains a fluid.

31. The device of claim 29 wherein the fluid is water.

32. A method for developing a planar shock wave to be used for therapeutic purposes on a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a spark to cause a shock wave;

shaping and directing the shock wave to create a planar shock wave; and

propagating the planar shock wave toward the subject.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the steps of:

providing a device having a parabolic reflector, an energy source attached to an electrode tip and a membrane disposed across a cavity in communication with the parabolic reflector;

orienting the electrode tip generally at a focal point of the parabolic reflector;

generating the spark at the electrode tip and developing the shock wave;

propagating the shock wave so that it reflects at the parabolic reflector; and

propagating the planar shock wave through the membrane and toward tissue of the subject to receive the planar wave for therapeutic effect.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the planar shock wave generates an immune response in the subject and has a power density in the range of approximately 0.01 mJ/mm.sup. 2 to 1.0 mJ/mm.sup.2.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the parabolic reflector has an opening having a diameter that is in the range of approximately 20 mm to 100 mm.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the planar shock wave triggers a physiological repair response in the subject.

37. A therapeutic method for treating tissue comprising the steps of:

generating a planar shock wave; and

coupling the planar shock wave to the tissue to be treated.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising the steps of:

providing a treatment device that develops the planar shock wave;

orienting the treatment device adjacent to the tissue area; and

activating the tissue in order to cause a chemical release from the tissue cells.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the shock wave is generated by electro hydraulic, electromagnetic or piezoelectric means.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the generating includes:

generating a spark to develop a shockwave, and reflecting the shockwave from a parabolic reflector to form a planar shock wave.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the planar shock wave is administered at a power density sufficient to cause the tissue to be activated to release a protein for generating an immune response.

42. A therapeutic device for administering a shock wave to a subject comprising:

a housing;

a shock wave source disposed in the housing;

wave directing and shaping structure in the housing responsive to the shock wave for causing a planar shock wave to be emitted from the housing; and

structure for coupling the shock wave to the subject.

43. The therapeutic device of claim 42 wherein the wave directing and shaping structure includes a parabolic reflector.

44. The therapeutic device of claim 42 wherein the housing includes an opening and the coupling structure includes a membrane disposed across the opening.

45. The therapeutic device of claim 44 wherein the wave directing and shaping structure is disposed in a cavity having the opening.

46. The therapeutic device of claim 42 wherein the shock wave source includes an electrode that develops a spark.