Shock wave source with a wave damping coil carrier

• US 20030069527A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bechtold, Mario, Fehre, Jens, Granz, Bernd, Mahler, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 6,849,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 17/2251 characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22027 Features of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/045 using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/16 Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general G10K11/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/043 producing shock waves G10K15/046, G10K15/06 take precedence; generating seismic energy G01V1/02

Abstract

A shock wave source has a coil carrier, a coil, having a metallic membrane separated from the coil in insulating fashion for generating shock waves. The coil carrier is formed of a material that damps the formation and/or the propagation of audible acoustic waves in the generation of shock waves.

Claims

1. A shock wave source comprising:

a coil carrier;

a coil disposed on said coil carrier;

a membrane overlying said coil on said coil carrier and separated from said coil in electrically insulating fashion, said coil interacting with said membrane, upon being charged with a current, to generate shock waves; and

said coil carrier comprising a material which damps at least one of formation and propagation of waves in said coil carrier generated with said shock waves.

2. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil carrier comprises a material having a mechanical vibrational Q of the low 100.

3. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.

4. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material is laced with particles.

5. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 4 wherein said particles have a hardness that is higher than a hardness of said material.

6. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material is expanded plastic.

7. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material has a honeycomb structure.

8. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 7 wherein said honeycomb structure is comprised of polygons selected from the group consisting of regular polygons and irregular polygons.

9. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 7 wherein said material comprising said honeycomb structure is selected from the group consisting of plastic and resin-bonded paper.

10. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil carrier has a longitudinal axis, and a cross-sectional area intersected by said longitudinal axis at a right angle having a non-circular contour.

11. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cross-sectional area comprises a contour having corners.

12. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cross-sectional area comprises an irregular contour.

13. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cross-sectional area comprises a regular, non-circular contour.

14. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil carrier has a generated surface with a first cover surface facing toward said coil and a second cover surface facing away from said coil, said second cover surface being non-flat.

15. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 14 wherein said second cover surface has structures therein selected from the group consisting of depressions and elevations.

16. A shock wave source as claimed in claim 15 wherein said structures of said second cover surface are irregular.