Acoustic therapy device

• US 10,639,052 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cattungal, Sanjay
• Application Number:
  US15/272,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20170027596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00075 Motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22015 with details of the transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/002 having a percussion element combined with a passive spacer element for bearing against the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/02 heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 : Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 : in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 : using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• 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 present disclosure provides a system for delivery of therapeutic energy. The system includes an energy unit configured to convert the acoustic energy signals transmitted to therapeutic ultrasound directed to fragment tumors and carcinogenic tissue in the body. The system also includes an energy unit configured to convert the acoustic energy signal transmitted from the energy unit to ultrasonic energy to image and monitor the treatment site with ultrasound. The system also includes a control unit including a computer for data storage and display.

Claims

1. A system for minimally invasive delivery of therapeutic energy to a treatment site in a body of a patient, the system comprising:

an energy unit configured to transmit at least one acoustic energy signal;

a medical device configured to be coupled to the energy unit, wherein at least a portion of the medical device is configured to be introduced into the patient;

a temperature sensor coupled to the medical device and configured to be introduced into the patient;

a first group of energy focusing components positioned on the medical device, the first group of energy focusing components comprised of piezoelectric transducers responsive to a first range of frequencies, the first group of energy focusing components configured to convert the acoustic energy signal transmitted from the energy unit to therapeutic ultrasonic energy, and the first group of energy focusing components arranged to focus the ultrasonic energy to a focal ellipse, wherein the focused ultrasonic energy is directed to fragment at least one of tumors and carcinogenic tissue in the body of the patient;

a second group of energy focusing components positioned on the medical device, the second group of energy focusing components comprised of piezoelectric transducers responsive to a second range of frequencies different from the first range of frequencies transmitted to the first group of energy focusing components from the energy unit, the second group of energy focusing components configured to convert the acoustic energy signal transmitted from the energy unit to ultrasonic energy to image and monitor the treatment site with ultrasound; and

a control unit including a computer with electronic memory for data storage and a display unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer of the control unit is connected to a global computer network, allowing transmission of stored data across the global computer network to medical personnel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of a lotion and a gel is used with the medical device to enhance the transmission of the acoustic signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy unit provides a pulsated energy signal to at least one of the first group of energy focusing components and the second group of energy focusing components.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy unit provides a continuous energy signal to at least one of the first group of energy focusing components and the second group of energy focusing components.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein MRI and ultrasound are configured to be used for positioning the energy focusing components.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein radio frequency is used in combination with ultrasound imaging.

8. A system for minimally invasive delivery of therapeutic energy to a treatment site in a body of a patient, the system comprising:

an energy unit configured to transmit an acoustic energy signal and at least one other energy signal;

a medical device configured to be coupled to the energy unit, wherein at least a portion of the medical device is configured to be introduced into the patient;

a temperature sensor coupled to the medical device and configured to be introduced into the patient;

a first group of energy focusing components positioned on the medical device, the first group of energy focusing components comprised of transducers responsive to a first range of frequencies, the first group of energy focusing components configured to convert the at least one other energy signal transmitted from the energy unit to therapeutic energy, and the first group of energy focusing components arranged to focus the therapeutic energy to a focal ellipse, wherein the focused therapeutic energy is directed to at least one of breaking or fragmenting particulate material in the body of the patient;

a second group of energy focusing components positioned on the medical device, the second group of energy focusing components comprised of piezoelectric transducers responsive to a second range of frequencies different from the first range of frequencies transmitted to the first group of energy focusing components from the energy unit, the second group of energy focusing components configured to convert the acoustic energy signal transmitted from the energy unit to ultrasonic energy to image and monitor the treatment site with ultrasound; and

a control unit including a computer with electronic memory for data storage and a display unit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer of the control unit is connected to a global computer network, allowing transmission of stored data across the global computer network to medical personnel.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of a lotion and a gel is used with the medical device to enhance the transmission of the acoustic signal.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the energy unit provides at least one of a pulsated energy signal and a continuous energy signal to at least one of the first group of energy focusing components and the second group of energy focusing components.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one other energy signal configured to be transmitted by the energy unit to the second group of energy focusing components is at least one of radiofrequency, magnetic, electromagnetic, microwave, thermal, vibratory, radiation, extracorporeal shockwave, and another acoustic energy signal.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein MRI and ultrasound are configured to be used for the positioning of the first group of energy focusing components.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein radio frequency is used in combination with ultrasound imaging.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the treatment site can be any organ or portion of the body requiring at least one of breaking and fragmenting of particulate material.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the broken or fragmented particulate material in the body of the patient is at least one of endothelium or tissue overgrowth, scar tissue, adhesions to intestines, tumors, carcinogenic tissue, calcific deposits including myositis ossifications or heterotopic tissue, kidney stones, and calcium deposits on joints.

17. A method of minimally invasive delivery of therapeutic energy to a treatment site in a body of a patient, the method comprising:

introducing at least a portion of a medical device into the patient, the medical device having a temperature sensor positioned on the portion of the medical device introduced into the patient;

transmitting at least one acoustic energy signal with an energy unit to a first group of energy focusing components positioned on the medical device and coupled to the energy unit and a second group of energy focusing components positioned on the medical device and coupled to the energy unit, wherein the first group of energy focusing components is comprised of piezoelectric transducers responsive to a first range of frequencies transmitted from the energy unit and the second group of energy focusing components is comprised of piezoelectric transducers responsive to a second range of frequencies transmitted from the energy unit, wherein the second range of frequencies transmitted to the second group of energy focusing components from the energy unit is different from the first range of frequencies transmitted to the first group of energy focusing components from the energy unit;

converting the acoustic energy signal transmitted from the energy unit to the first group of energy focusing components to therapeutic ultrasonic energy, wherein the piezoelectric transducers of the first group of energy focusing components are arranged to focus the therapeutic ultrasonic energy to a focal ellipse directed to fragment tumors and carcinogenic tissue at the treatment site in the body of the patient;

converting the acoustic energy signal transmitted from the energy unit to the second group of energy focusing components to ultrasonic energy for imaging and monitoring the treatment site; and

recording the treatment in electronic memory for data storage in a computer included in a control unit having a display unit.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

connecting the computer of the control unit to a global computer network; and

transmitting stored data in the electronic memory across the global computer network to medical personnel.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising applying at least one of a lotion and a gel to at least the portion of the medical device introduced into the patient to enhance the transmission of the acoustic signal from the energy unit.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the energy signal transmitted by the energy unit is a pulsated energy signal to at least one of the first group of energy focusing components and the second group of energy focusing components.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the energy signal transmitted by the energy unit is a continuous energy signal to at least one of the first group of energy focusing components and the second group of energy focusing components.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein positioning of the first group of energy focusing components is configured to be performed with MRI and ultrasound imaging.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein radio frequency is used in combination with ultrasound imaging.