Applicators that house and support ultrasound transducers for transcutaneou delivery of ultrasound energy

• US 20090318813A1
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TIMI 3 Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TIMI 3 Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Alexander, Miles D., Thompson, Todd A., Suorsa, Veijo T., Horzewski, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/583,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318813A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/225 for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• 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

An applicator for delivering ultrasound energy that comprises an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be electrically coupled to an ultrasound generator. A housing carries the ultrasound transducer for use. An element supports the transducer within the housing. The element includes an elastic material having a hardness of about 30 Shore A to about 100 Shore A.

Claims

1. An applicator for transcutaneous delivery of ultrasound energy comprising

an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be electrically coupled to an ultrasound generator, the ultrasound transducer including an acoustic stack having a front mass radiating surface, the front mass radiating surface having a periphery and a gravity plane,

a housing that carries the acoustic stack for use, the housing also carrying a bladder that is spaced from the front mass radiating surface and adapted and configured for contact with a skin surface and forming a chamber between the bladder and the front mass radiating surface, the chamber being adapted and configured to contain an acoustic coupling media, the housing also including a well region extending outward about the entire periphery of the front mass radiating surface and at a position above the gravity plane to collect away from the front mass radiating surface, and without discharge from the chamber, air bubbles forming in the acoustic coupling media, to minimize localized skin surface heating effects, and

an element that supports the acoustic stack within the housing, being adapted and configured to expose the front mass radiating surface to the acoustic coupling media, and

a hydrophilic material on the front mass radiating surface to shed air bubbles.

2. An applicator according to claim 1

wherein the front mass radiating surface is generally flat.

3. An applicator according to claim 1

wherein the front mass radiating surface is generally convex.

4. An applicator according to claim 1

wherein the housing includes mounts accommodating attachment of a stabilization assembly to temporarily secure the applicator against a skin surface for use.

5. An applicator according to claim 1

wherein the element is sized and configured to expose the front mass radiating surface to the acoustic coupling media while preventing substantial contact between the acoustic coupling media and a side surface of the front mass radiating surface.