Apparatus for ultrasonic bone treatment

• US 6,322,527 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exogen Inc. (Bioventus LLC)
• Original Assignee: Exogen Inc. (Bioventus LLC)
• Inventors: Talish, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/420,403
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 601/2, 601/97, 310/316, 310/345, 310/348, 607/52, 607/50, 607/31, 600/439, 602/2, 439/909
• US Class Current: 601/2
• 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

The apparatus is used for therapeutically treating injuries using ultrasound. The present invention may include a therapeutic ultrasonic composite comprising a transducer and an integrated circuit unit positioned adjacent the transducer. The therapeutic ultrasonic composite also includes signal generation circuitry, housed on the integrated circuit unit, for generating a driving signal for the transducer, and a driving interface between the signal generation circuitry and the transducer. In operation, driving signals generated by the signal generation circuitry are transmitted to the transducer by the interface, thereby driving the transducer for the creation of therapeutic ultrasound.

Claims

1. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite comprising:

a) a transducer;

b) an integrated circuit unit physically disposed on the transducer, comprising

signal generation circuitry for generating a driving signal for the transducer, a timer that interfaces with the signal generation circuitry for controlling the signal generation circuitry and capable of being activated by control signals received from an external control source, and a control interface for receiving control signals from an external control source, the signal generation circuitry, timer, and control interface housed on the integrated circuit unit;

c) a driving interface between the signal generation circuitry and the transducer;

wherein the signal generation circuitry is capable of generating driving signals, the interface is capable of carrying the driving signals, and the driving signals are capable of driving the transducer, which is capable of emitting therapeutic ultrasound.

2. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 1, wherein the signal generation circuitry housed in the integrated circuit unit further comprises an R-F oscillator, a modulator and a transducer driver.

3. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 1, wherein the timer controls a power supply to the signal generation circuitry.

4. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 1, wherein the driving interface between the signal generation circuitry and the transducer includes electronic pins projecting from the integrated circuit unit, the electronic pins configured to be received in corresponding electronic receptors on the transducer.

5. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit unit further comprises a power interface for receiving power for the signal generation circuitry from an external power source separate from the composite.

6. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 1, further comprising a power supply positioned adjacent the integrated circuit unit and circuitry between the power supply and the signal generation circuitry.

7. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 6, wherein the power supply is a battery.

8. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 6, further comprising a means for attaching and positioning the composite with the operative surface of the transducer adjacent an external skin location.

9. The therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric substrate having an operative surface for emitting ultrasound and at least one nonoperative surface, and wherein the integrated circuit unit is mounted on a nonoperative surface.

10. A system for providing therapeutic ultrasonic therapy comprising:

a) an ultrasonic treatment composite comprising a transducer, and an integrated circuit physically disposed on and interfacing electronically with the transducer, the integrated circuit comprising signal generation circuitry configured to provide driving signals to the transducer via the interface for the generation of therapeutic ultrasound, and a timer that interfaces with the signal generation circuitry for controlling the signal generation circuitry, and capable of being activated by control signals received from an external control source;

b) external treatment control circuitry separate from the composite, the external treatment control circuitry configured to generate control signals capable of activating the timer on the integrated circuit; and

c) control interface between the external treatment control circuitry and the integrated circuit for transmitting the control signals generated by the external treatment control circuitry to the integrated circuit.

11. A system for providing therapeutic ultrasonic therapy as in claim 10 wherein the external treatment control circuitry resides in a portable control unit.

12. A system for providing therapeutic ultrasonic therapy as in claim 11 wherein the external treatment control circuitry includes a processor and memory for storing data pertinent to an individual patient.

13. A system for providing therapeutic ultrasonic therapy as in claim 10 wherein the external treatment control circuitry resides in a centralized data processing center.

14. A system for providing therapeutic ultrasonic therapy as in claim 13 wherein the generation of the control signals by the external treatment control circuitry may be initiated by a patient at a remote location by transmission of an electronic code.

15. A system for providing therapeutic ultrasonic therapy as in claim 14 wherein the electronic code is transmitted over a telephonic connection.

16. A system for providing therapeutic ultrasonic therapy as in claim 13 wherein the control signals generated by the external treatment control circuitry are transmitted from the centralized data processing center to the integrated circuit over a telephonic connection.

17. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite comprising:

a) a transducer formed by a portion of a piezoelectric substrate, the transducer having an operative surface for the emission of therapeutic ultrasound;

b) an integrated circuit unit formed in an portion of the piezoelectric substrate, the integrated circuit having signal generation circuitry for generating driving signals for the transducer;

c) a driving interface formed within the substrate between the signal generation circuitry and the transducer;

wherein the signal generation circuitry is capable of generating driving signals, the interface is capable of carrying the driving signals, and the driving signals are capable of driving the transducer, which is capable of emitting therapeutic ultrasound at the operative surface.

18. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 17, wherein the signal generation circuitry includes an R-F oscillator, a modulator and a transducer driver.

19. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 17, wherein the piezo-electric substrate includes a control interface, the control interface for receiving control signals from an external control source, the control signals used to control the signal generation circuitry.

20. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 19, wherein the integrated circuit includes a timer that interfaces with the signal generation circuitry for controlling the signal generation circuitry, the timer activated with the control signals received from the external control source.

21. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 19, wherein the control signals from the external control source control a power supply to the signal generation circuitry.

22. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 17, wherein the piezo-electric substrate includes a power interface for receiving power for the signal generation circuitry from an external power source separate from the composite.

23. A therapeutic ultrasonic composite as in claim 17, further comprising a power supply positioned adjacent the integrated circuit unit and hardwired electronic circuitry between the power supply and the signal generation circuitry.