Apparatus for applying high-intensity ultrasonic waves to a target volume within a human or animal body

• US 5,664,570 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Face International Corp.
• Original Assignee: SVC
• Inventors: Bishop, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FIELDS, DERRICK LAMAR
• Application Number:
  US08/603,280
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 601/2, 601/3, 601/4, 607/97, 128/660.03
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/043 producing shock waves G10K15/046, G10K15/06 take precedence; generating seismic energy G01V1/02

Abstract

An apparatus for focussing vibrational energy upon a target volume within a surrounding contiguous medium imparts high intensity energy upon the target volume from low level energy sources. A plurality of standing compression waves are established within the medium along corresponding longitudinal axes between opposing pairs of coordinated transducers. The target volume is located at the common intersection of the axes of the standing compression waves. Opposing pairs of transducers are positioned from each other at a distance equal to an integer multiple of half wavelengths of the corresponding standing wave therebetween. The phase angle of each standing compression wave is regulated so as to cause each wave to be at its maximum intensity (amplitude) within the target volume at the point of common intersection with the other standing waves. The plurality of intersecting standing waves constructively interfere within the target volume, thereby imparting more intense vibrational energy upon the target volume that upon the surrounding medium.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying high intensity vibrational energy to a target volume disposed within a contiguous surrounding medium, comprising:

means for introducing vibrational energy into a work medium, said means comprising first and second actuator members;

said first and second actuator members being aligned with each other along a first longitudinal axis;

said first actuator member being operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

said first actuator comprising a first planar surface perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis and means for oscillating said first planar surface parallel to said first longitudinal axis at a first frequency;

said second actuator member comprising a second planar surface perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis facing said first planar surface and being operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

and said second actuator member comprising means for oscillating said second planar surface parallel to said first longitudinal axis at said first frequency;

and means for establishing a first standing pressure wave in said work medium between said first planar surface and said second planar surface;

wherein said means for establishing said first standing pressure wave in said work medium between said first planar surface and said second planar surface comprises means for controlling a phase angle of oscillation of said first planar surface relative to a phase angle of oscillation of said second planar surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said first frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a first distance measurable across said first planar surface;

and wherein said first frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a second distance measurable across said second planar surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said means for introducing vibrational energy into said work medium further comprises third and fourth actuator members;

said third and fourth actuator members being aligned with each other along a second longitudinal axis;

wherein said first longitudinal axis intersects said second longitudinal axis between said first and second actuator members and between said third and fourth actuator members;

said third actuator member comprising a third planar surface operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

and said third actuator member comprising means for oscillating said third planar surface parallel to said second longitudinal axis at a second frequency;

said fourth actuator member comprising a fourth planar surface operationally positionable adjacent said work medium and facing said third planar surface;

and said fourth actuator member comprising means for oscillating said fourth planar surface parallel to said second longitudinal axis at said second frequency;

and means for establishing a second standing pressure wave in said work medium between said third planar surface and said fourth planar surface;

and said means for establishing said second standing pressure wave in said work medium between said third planar surface and said fourth planar surface comprising means for controlling a phase angle of oscillation of said third planar surface relative to said fourth planar surface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein said second frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a third distance measurable across said third planar surface;

and wherein said second frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a fourth distance measurable across said fourth planar surface.

5. The invention according to claim 4,

wherein a distance from said first planar surface to said second planar surface equals an integral number of half wave lengths of said first standing wave;

and wherein a distance from said third planar surface to said fourth planar surface equals an integral number of half wave lengths of said second standing wave.

6. The invention according to claim 5,

wherein said first standing wave has an antinode at the point of intersection of said first longitudinal axis and said second longitudinal axis.

7. The invention according to claim 6,

wherein said second standing wave has an antinode at the point of intersection of said first longitudinal axis and said second longitudinal axis.

8. The invention according to claim 7,

wherein said first standing wave is a compression wave;

and wherein said second standing wave is a compression wave.

9. The invention according to claim 1,

wherein said means for introducing vibrational energy into said work medium further comprises third and fourth actuator members;

said third and fourth actuator members being aligned with each other along a second longitudinal axis;

wherein said first longitudinal axis intersects said second longitudinal axis between said first and second actuator members and between said third and fourth actuator members;

said third actuator member comprising a third planar surface operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

and said third actuator member comprising means for oscillating said third planar surface parallel to said second longitudinal axis at a second frequency;

said fourth actuator member comprising a fourth planar surface operationally positionable adjacent said work medium and facing said third planar surface;

and said fourth actuator member comprising means for oscillating said fourth planar surface parallel to said second longitudinal axis at said second frequency;

and means for establishing a second standing pressure wave in said work medium between said third planar surface and said fourth planar surface;

and said means for establishing said second standing pressure wave in said work medium between said third planar surface and said fourth planar surface comprising means for controlling a phase angle of oscillation of said third planar surface relative to said fourth planar surface.

10. The invention according to claim 9,

wherein a distance from said first planar surface to said second planar surface equals an integral number of half wave lengths of said first standing wave;

and wherein a distance from said third planar surface to said fourth planar surface equals an integral number of half wave lengths of said second standing wave.

11. An apparatus for applying high intensity vibrational energy to a target volume disposed within a contiguous surrounding medium, comprising:

means for introducing vibrational energy into a work medium, said means comprising first and second actuator members;

said first and second actuator members being aligned with each other along a first longitudinal axis;

said first actuator member being operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

said first actuator comprising a first surface and means for oscillating said first surface parallel to said first longitudinal axis at a first frequency;

said second actuator member comprising a second surface facing said first surface and being operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

and said second actuator member comprising means for oscillating said second surface parallel to said first longitudinal axis at said first frequency;

and means for establishing a first standing pressure wave in said work medium between said first surface and said second surface;

wherein said means for establishing said first standing pressure wave in said work medium between said first surface and said second surface comprises means for controlling a phase angle of oscillation of said first surface relative to a phase angle of oscillation of said second surface; and

wherein said first frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a first distance measurable across said first surface;

and wherein said first frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a second distance measurable across said second surface; and

wherein said means for introducing vibrational energy into said work medium further comprises third and fourth actuator members;

said third and fourth actuator members being aligned with each other along a second longitudinal axis;

wherein said first longitudinal axis intersects said second longitudinal axis between said first and second actuator members and between said third and fourth actuator members;

said third actuator member comprising a third surface operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

and said third actuator member comprising means for oscillating said third surface parallel to said second longitudinal axis at a second frequency;

said fourth actuator member comprising a fourth surface operationally positionable adjacent said work medium and facing said third surface;

and said fourth actuator member comprising means for oscillating said fourth surface parallel to said second longitudinal axis at said second frequency;

and means for establishing a second standing pressure wave in said work medium between said third surface and said fourth surface;

and said means for establishing said second standing pressure wave in said work medium between said third surface and said fourth surface comprising means for controlling a phase angle of oscillation of said third surface relative to said fourth surface; and

wherein said first frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a first distance measurable across said first surface;

and wherein said first frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a second distance measurable across said second surface;

and wherein said second frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a third distance measurable across said third surface;

and wherein said second frequency is greater than a speed of sound in said work medium divided by a fourth distance measurable across said fourth surface; and

wherein a distance from said first surface to said second surface equals an integral number of half wave lengths of said first standing wave;

and wherein a distance from said third surface to said fourth surface equals an integral number of half wave lengths of said second standing wave.

12. The invention according to claim 11,

wherein said first standing wave has an antinode at the point of intersection of said first longitudinal axis and said second longitudinal axis.

13. The invention according to claim 12,

wherein said second standing wave has an antinode at the point of intersection of said first longitudinal axis and said second longitudinal axis.

14. The invention according to claim 13,

wherein said first standing wave is a compression wave;

and wherein said second standing wave is a compression wave.

15. The invention according to claim 11,

wherein said first standing wave is a compression wave;

and

wherein said second standing wave is a compression wave.

16. An apparatus for applying vibrational energy to a target volume disposed within a contiguous surrounding medium, comprising:

means for introducing vibrational energy into a work medium, said means comprising first and second actuators;

said first actuator being operationlly positionable adjacent said work medium;

said first actuator comprising a first surface, and means for oscillating said first surface at a first frequency;

said second actuator comprising a second surface facing said first surface and being operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

and said second actuator comprising means for oscillating said second surface at said first frequency.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein said means for introducing vibrational energy into said work medium further comprises third and fourth actuators;

said third actuator comprising a third surface operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

and said third actuator comprising means for oscillating said third surface at a second frequency;

said fourth actuator comprising a fourth surface facing said third surface operationally positionable adjacent said work medium;

and said fourth actuator comprising means for oscillating said fourth surface at said second frequency.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said means for oscillating said first surface comprises a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element; and

said means for oscillating said second surface comprises a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said means for oscillating said first surface comprises a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element; and

said means for oscillating said second surface comprises a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element;

said means for oscillating said third surface comprises a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element;

and said means for oscillating said third surface comprises a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element;

said means for oscillating said fourth surface comprises a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element.