Method for applying high-intensity ultrasonic waves to a target volume within a human or animal body
First Claim
1. A method of applying high intensity vibrational energy to a target volume disposed within a contiguous surrounding medium, comprising the steps of:
- introducing vibrational energy into a medium from a first actuator member;
introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a second actuator member;
establishing a first standing pressure wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member, said first standing pressure wave having a first longitudinal axis extending through said first actuator member and said second actuator member;
directing said first standing pressure wave through a target volume, said target volume being disposed within said medium and being contiguous with said medium;
positioning an antinode of said first standing pressure wave within said target volume;
introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a third actuator member;
introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a fourth actuator member;
establishing a second standing pressure wave within said medium between said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member, said second standing pressure wave having a second longitudinal axis extending through said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member;
directing said second standing pressure wave through said target volume;
positioning an antinode of said second standing pressure wave within said target volume;
wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a first actuator member comprises oscillating a first surface of said first actuator member in a direction parallel to said first longitudinal axis;
wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a second actuator member comprises oscillating a second surface of said second actuator member in a direction parallel to said first longitudinal axis;
wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a third actuator member comprises oscillating a third surface of said third actuator member in a direction parallel to said second longitudinal axis;
wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a fourth actuator member comprises oscillating a fourth surface of said fourth actuator member in a direction parallel to said second longitudinal axis;
wherein said first surface, said second surface, said third surface and said fourth surface are each in contact with said medium;
wherein said first surface and said second surface are each oscillated at a first frequency;
wherein said third surface and said fourth surface are each oscillated at a second frequency;
wherein said step of establishing a first standing pressure wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member further comprises generating a first wave length of said first standing pressure wave in said medium adjacent to said first surface, said first wave length being shorter than a first distance measurable across said first surface;
wherein said step of establishing a first standing pressure wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member further comprises generating a second wave length of said first standing pressure wave in said medium adjacent to said second surface, said second wave length being shorter than a second distance measurable across said second surface;
wherein said step of establishing a second standing pressure wave within said medium between said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member further comprises generating a third wave length of said second standing pressure wave in said medium adjacent to said third surface, said third wave length being shorter than a third distance measurable across said third surface;
and wherein said step of establishing a second standing pressure wave within said medium between said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member further comprises generating a fourth wave length of said second standing pressure wave in said medium adjacent to said fourth surface, said fourth wave length being shorter than a fourth distance measurable across said fourth surface.
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Abstract
A method 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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of applying high intensity vibrational energy to a target volume disposed within a contiguous surrounding medium, comprising the steps of:
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introducing vibrational energy into a medium from a first actuator member; introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a second actuator member; establishing a first standing pressure wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member, said first standing pressure wave having a first longitudinal axis extending through said first actuator member and said second actuator member; directing said first standing pressure wave through a target volume, said target volume being disposed within said medium and being contiguous with said medium; positioning an antinode of said first standing pressure wave within said target volume; introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a third actuator member;
introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a fourth actuator member;establishing a second standing pressure wave within said medium between said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member, said second standing pressure wave having a second longitudinal axis extending through said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member; directing said second standing pressure wave through said target volume; positioning an antinode of said second standing pressure wave within said target volume; wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a first actuator member comprises oscillating a first surface of said first actuator member in a direction parallel to said first longitudinal axis; wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a second actuator member comprises oscillating a second surface of said second actuator member in a direction parallel to said first longitudinal axis; wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a third actuator member comprises oscillating a third surface of said third actuator member in a direction parallel to said second longitudinal axis; wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a fourth actuator member comprises oscillating a fourth surface of said fourth actuator member in a direction parallel to said second longitudinal axis; wherein said first surface, said second surface, said third surface and said fourth surface are each in contact with said medium; wherein said first surface and said second surface are each oscillated at a first frequency; wherein said third surface and said fourth surface are each oscillated at a second frequency; wherein said step of establishing a first standing pressure wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member further comprises generating a first wave length of said first standing pressure wave in said medium adjacent to said first surface, said first wave length being shorter than a first distance measurable across said first surface; wherein said step of establishing a first standing pressure wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member further comprises generating a second wave length of said first standing pressure wave in said medium adjacent to said second surface, said second wave length being shorter than a second distance measurable across said second surface; wherein said step of establishing a second standing pressure wave within said medium between said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member further comprises generating a third wave length of said second standing pressure wave in said medium adjacent to said third surface, said third wave length being shorter than a third distance measurable across said third surface; and wherein said step of establishing a second standing pressure wave within said medium between said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member further comprises generating a fourth wave length of said second standing pressure wave in said medium adjacent to said fourth surface, said fourth wave length being shorter than a fourth distance measurable across said fourth surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of applying high intensity vibrational energy to a target volume disposed within a contiguous surrounding medium, comprising the steps of:
- introducing vibrational energy into a medium from a first actuator member;
introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a second actuator member; establishing a first standing planar wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member, said first standing planar wave having a first longitudinal axis extending through said first actuator member and said second actuator member; directing said first standing planar wave through a target volume, said target volume being disposed within said medium and being contiguous with said medium; positioning an antinode of said first standing planar wave within said target volume; wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a first actuator member comprises oscillating a first planar surface of said first actuator member in a direction parallel to said first longitudinal axis; wherein said step of introducing vibrational energy into said medium from a second actuator member comprises oscillating a second planar surface of said second actuator member in a direction parallel to said first longitudinal axis; wherein said first planar surface and said second planar surface are each in contact with said medium; wherein said first planar surface and said second planar surface are each oscillated at a first frequency; wherein said step of establishing a first standing planar wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member further comprises generating a first wave length of said first standing planar wave in said medium adjacent to said first planar surface, said first wave length being shorter than a first distance measurable across said first planar surface; wherein said step of establishing a first standing planar wave within said medium between said first actuator member and said second actuator member further comprises generating a second wave length of said first standing planar wave in said medium adjacent to said second planar surface, said second wave length being shorter than a second distance measurable across said second planar surface. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- introducing vibrational energy into a medium from a first actuator member;
Specification