Method for using acoustic shock waves in the treatment of medical conditions

• US 6,390,995 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanuwave, Inc. (SANUWAVE Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Healthtronics Surgical Services, Inc. (Healthtronics Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ogden, John A., Warlick, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US09/342,151
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 600/427, 600/439, 601/2-4
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2256 with means for locating or checking the concrement, e.g. X-ray apparatus, imaging means A61B17/2255 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to methods for medical treatment of a variety of pathological conditions associated with bone environments and musculoskeletal environments, including the treatment of ischemic conditions such as bursitis. The method involves applying a sufficient number of acoustic shock waves to the site of a pathological condition including micro-disruptions, non-osseous tissue stimulation, increased vascularization, and circulation and induction of growth factors to induce or accelerate the body'"'"'s natural healing processes and responses.

Claims

1. A method of treating an ischemic condition associated with soft tissue adjacent to a musculo-skeletal environment, comprising:

locating a site or suspected site of the ischemic condition;

generating acoustic shock waves;

focusing the acoustic shock waves on the located site; and

applying a sufficient number of acoustic shock waves to the located site to induce micro-injury and increased vascularization thereby inducing or accelerating healing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a sufficient number of acoustic shock waves comprises applying about 400 to about 3000 acoustic shock waves per treatment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ischemic condition is bursitis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating acoustic shock waves comprises applying a voltage potential across a spark gap of a spark gap generator ranging from about 14 kV to about 28 kV to generate each shock wave.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a sufficient number of acoustic shock waves comprises applying the acoustic shock waves in a single treatment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic shock waves are focused on the located site with an ellipsoid reflector.