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

• US 20120253240A1
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Patent, LLC (Tissue Regeneration Technologies LLC)
• Original Assignee: General Patent, LLC (Tissue Regeneration Technologies LLC)
• Inventors: Uebelacker, Walter, Schultheiss, Reiner, Schaden, Wolfgang, Warlick, John
• Application Number:
  US13/449,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253240A1
• 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. A method for developing a planar shock wave to be used for therapeutic purposes for treating living tissue to produce a living tissue reaction in a subject to which the shock wave is administered, 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 in the absence of a focusing lens through an exit window or membrane coupled to the tissues so that the emitted wave is transmitted unfocused from the exit window or membrane to the treated living tissue with reflected unfocused flat acoustic waves wherein the planar shock wave generates an immune response in the tissue and has a power density in the range of approximately 0.01 mJ/mm² to 1.0 mJ/mm² while avoiding tissue damage.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a device having a parabolic reflector, an energy source attached to an electrode tip and wherein the membrane or exit window is 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 or exit window coupled to the subject and directed toward tissue of the subject to receive the planar wave for therapeutic effect.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the parabolic reflector has an opening having a diameter that is in the range of approximately 20 mm to 100 mm.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the planar shock wave triggers a physiological repair response in the subject.

5. 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 wherein the planar shock wave generates an immune response in the tissue and has a power density in the range of approximately 0.01 mJ/mm² to 1.0 mJ/mm² while avoiding tissue damage.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

providing a treatment device that develops the planar shock wave;

orienting the treatment device adjacent to a tissue area; and

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

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the shock wave is generated by electro hydraulic, electromagnetic or piezoelectric means.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the generating includes:

generating a spark to develop a shock wave, and

reflecting the shock wave from a parabolic reflector to form a planar shock wave.

9. The method of claim 5 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.