CONTROLLING ACOUSTIC MODES IN TISSUE HEALING APPLICATIONS

• US 20090306551A1
• Filed: 04/07/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioventus LLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: De Ana, Javier, Chivers, Robin A., Pounder, Neill M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• 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 modal converter assembly [10] for healing tissue, the modal converter assembly [10] comprises a transducer [5] and a body [8]. The transducer [5] is configured to transmit acoustic waves into the tissue from a tissue surface. The body [8] is configured to house the transducer [5] above the tissue surface such that the acoustic waves transmitted into the tissue are transmitted at an oblique angle relative to the tissue surface. The acoustic waves are transferred as shear waves and longitudinal waves to treat a damaged portion of the tissue.

Claims

1. A modal converter assembly for healing tissue, the modal converter assembly comprising:

a. a transducer configured to transmit acoustic waves into the tissue from a tissue surface; and

b. a body configured to house the transducer above the tissue surface such that the acoustic waves transmitted into the tissue are transmitted at an oblique angle relative to the tissue surface, wherein the acoustic waves are transferred as shear waves and longitudinal waves to treat a damaged portion of the tissue.

2. The modal converter assembly of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a piezoelectric element.

3. The modal converter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a modal converter, the modal converter being made of a material having a speed of sound similar to the speed of sound of the soft tissue, the modal converter being placed within the body and between the transducer and the soft tissue such that the angle between the transducer and the tissue surface is an oblique angle.

4. The modal converter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring configured to bias the transducer toward the tissue surface.

5. The modal converter assembly of claim 4, further comprising a cap configured to attach to the body, the spring having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the cap and the second end being attached to the transducer.

6. The modal converter assembly of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a plurality of acoustic wave generating elements, the plurality of acoustic wave generating elements being oriented along the tissue surface.

7. The modal converter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a signal generator, the signal generator being configured to control the acoustic waves generated in the transducer.

8. The modal converter assembly of claim 1, wherein acoustic waves are temporally shifted such that the sum of the acoustic waves transmitted into the tissue are transmitted at an oblique angle relative to the tissue surface.

9. The modal converter assembly of claim 1, wherein the oblique angle is in the range from about 18 to 71 degrees from normal.