Apparatus for generating shock waves with piezoelectric fibers integrated in a composite

• US 7,867,178 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanuwave, Inc. (SANUWAVE Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sanuwave, Inc. (SANUWAVE Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Simnacher, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHTA, PARIKHA SOLANKI
• Application Number:
  US10/779,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,519 Days
• Field of Search: 601/1, 601/2, 601/4, 367/180, 367/189, 600/439
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/225 for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22027 Features of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22028 arrays, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/043 producing shock waves G10K15/046, G10K15/06 take precedence; generating seismic energy G01V1/02

Abstract

Apparatus for Generating Shock Waves directed at an area of a human or animal body to be treated using piezoelectric fibers, for generating shock waves. The piezofibers integrated in a composite material are controlled for this, and together with a control unit they form the shock-wave generating part.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating shock waves directed at an area of a human or animal body to be treated comprising a plurality of separate piezoelectric modules arranged next to one another on a carrier wherein each module is a spatial unit and includes a plurality of piezoelectric fibers distributed and integrated lengthwise between respective electrical terminals in a continuous composite material between the plurality of piezoelectric fibers, a voltage source electrically connected to at least one electrical terminal and a coupling membrane defining a volume filled with a shock wave transmission medium between the piezoelectric fibers and the coupling membrane, wherein said piezoelectric fibers point toward the coupling membrane.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules are electrically interconnected and controllable as a module group apart from one or more other module groups comprised of other modules from the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the carrier is a pipe-shaped cylindrical segment with the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules arranged providing a horizontal cylindrical focus line.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different sizes from one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules of different sizes have different forms of radiating surfaces.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different forms of radiating surfaces.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules are electrically individually controllable.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different sizes from one another.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules of different sizes have different forms of radiating surfaces.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different forms of radiating surfaces.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier includes a geometry selected from the group consisting of planar, spherical and cylindrical.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the carrier is a pipe-shaped cylindrical segment with the modules arranged providing a horizontal cylindrical focus line.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different sizes from one another.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules of different sizes have different forms of radiating surfaces.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different forms of radiating surfaces.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules are at least one of electrically interconnected and controllable as a module group apart from one or more other module groups comprised of other modules from the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules and electrically individually controllable.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different sizes from one another.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules of different sizes have different forms of radiating surfaces.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different forms of radiating surfaces.