Method for preparing an apparatus for treating a human or animal body by mechanical shockwaves

• US 20100256535A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Storz Medical AG
• Original Assignee: Storz Medical AG
• Inventors: Schulz, Manfred, Novak, Pavel, Froese, Klaus
• Application Number:
  US12/751,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256535A1
• 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 17/92 Impactors or extractors, e.g. for removing intramedullary devices insertion or extraction of artificial joints A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 coded with symbols, e.g. text
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1685 interchangeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/008 using shock waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for a regular preparation of an apparatus for a treatment of a human or animal body by mechanical shockwaves to such a treatment wherein an impact body 9 used for shockwave production is replaced with a not-used impact body 9 before each treatment of a further patient.

Claims

1. A method for a regular preparation of an apparatus for treating a human or animal body with mechanical shockwaves produced by an apparatus which includes a moveable projectile and an impact body exchangeable with one or more other impact bodies that could be employed, and wherein said shockwaves can be produced by accelerating and colliding said projectile with said impact body, and wherein said shockwaves can be coupled into said human or animal body by an extra-corporal positioning of said apparatus against a surface of said body, said method characterized in that said method includes the following step:

after said apparatus has been operated for treating a first human or animal body, replacing said impact body with a new impact body before each subsequent treatment of another human or animal body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said impact bodies consists of synthetic resin or plastics, in particular polycarbonate or PEEK.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said impact bodies consists of metal, in particular aluminum or stainless steel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said impact bodies consists of sintered ceramic, in particular zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, or silicon nitride.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said ceramic has a density of 6 g/cm³ at maximum.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said ceramic has an impact resistance of at least 3 MPam.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said ceramic has a compression resistance of at least 2,000 MPa.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said ceramic is colored.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a detection device for an automatic detection of said impact body, wherein an impact body is detected and is distinguished from other impact bodies being mountable but of different type by said detection.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said impact body has a marking detectable by said detection device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said marking is detected via an electrical contact.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said marking is detected by light including infrared light.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said marking is read by radio frequency waves.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said impact body has no marking and said detection device detects said impact body by electro-magnetic properties, in particular by a magnetic inductivity measurement.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the type of said impact body is displayed upon its detection.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein operation parameters adapted to a type of said detected impact body are checked or automatically set for said treatment.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein an insertion of a not used impact body is monitored by means of said detection of said impact body.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein a cap serving for a mounting of said impact body is replaced with a new cap serving before each subsequent treatment of another human or animal body.

19. An apparatus for treating a human or animal body by mechanical shockwaves, said apparatus comprising:

a moveable projectile and

an impact body being exchangeable, wherein said shockwaves can be produced by accelerating and colliding said projectile onto said impact body and can be coupled into said body by an extra-corporal positioning of said apparatus onto a surface of said body,

characterized in that said impact body is a single-use impact body adapted for said treatment of exactly one patient.

20. A method of using an apparatus that includes a moveable projectile and an impact body exchangeable with one or more other impact bodies that could be employed, and wherein said shockwaves can be produced by accelerating and colliding said projectile with said impact body, and wherein said shockwaves can be coupled into said human or animal body by an extra-corporal positioning of said apparatus against a surface of said body, said method characterized in that said method includes the following steps:

(a) operating said apparatus for treating a first human or animal body; and

(b) after step (a), replacing said impact body with a new impact body before each subsequent treatment of another human or animal body.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said step (a) of said method comprises effecting at least 5,000 collisions of said projectile onto said impact body.