Lithotripsy system with automatic 3D tracking

• US 20090275866A1
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IKOMED Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel Gelbart, Lindsay Machan
• Inventors: Gelbart, Daniel, Machan, Lindsay
• Granted Patent: US 8,979,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/225 for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves
• 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: A61B 17/2256 with means for locating or checking the concrement, e.g. X-ray apparatus, imaging means A61B17/2255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22028 arrays, e.g. phased arrays

Abstract

A lithotripsy system capable of 3D tracking monitors the acoustic reflection from the stone in order to focus the shock wave on the stone regardless of shock wave displacement or stone movement. The tracking and focusing is based on a phased array concept, allowing the lithotripsy head to remain stationary and well coupled to the body. An alternate shock wave steering is based on refraction by a variable liquid wedge.

Claims

1. A lithotripsy system comprising a phased array of transducers capable of generating a focused shockwave for the destruction of an undesired object, said focus point tracking said object based on the reflections of said shockwave from said object.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein each one of said transducers comprises of a coil and a metallic diaphragm.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein each one of said transducers comprises of a coil and a movable metallic segment bonded to a polymeric diaphragm.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein the phased array is capable of moving the focus point in three dimensions.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein the said tracking is based on a plurality of detectors for detecting the shock wave reflected from said object.

10. A system as in claim 1 wherein tracking of said object is based on measuring the location of said object using a measuring system independent of the said array

16. A system as in claim 1 wherein said array includes from 4 to 400 transducers.

18. A system as in claim 1 comprising of an acoustic lens to focus said shock wave, said lens having a coating for reducing acoustic reflections.

2. A lithotripsy system comprising shock wave steering device generating a focused shockwave for the destruction of an undesired object, said steering device is capable of tracking said object without moving the lithotripsy system part in contact with the body of the patient.

8. A system as in claim 2 wherein said steering device is a deformable liquid cell.

9. A system as in claim 2 wherein said steering device is a deformable liquid wedge and one of the liquids used is glycerine.

19. A system as in claim 2 comprising of an acoustic lens to focus said shock wave, said lens having a coating for reducing acoustic reflections.

3. A lithotripsy system comprises a phased array of transducers capable of generating a focused shock wave for the destruction of an undesired object in a target area, said system using a low power setting for scanning the target area and a higher power setting for the destruction of said object.

11. A system as in claim 3 wherein the location of the object found by said scanning is used to direct the shock wave during said destruction.

12. A system as in claim 3 wherein a two dimensional scan is performed first, followed by a scan in a third dimension

13. A system as in claim 3 wherein the scanning is performed by low power pulses.

14. A system as in claim 3 wherein the scanning is performed by a continuous acoustic wave.

15. A system as in claim 3 wherein the destruction is performed by a continuous acoustic wave.

17. A system as in claim 3 wherein said array includes from 4 to 400 transducers.

20. A system as in claim 3 comprising of an acoustic lens to focus said shock wave, said lens having a coating for reducing acoustic reflections.