Unlock instant, AI-driven research and patent intelligence for your innovation.

Rapid pulse electrohydraulic (EH) shockwave generator apparatus and methods for medical and cosmetic treatments

High-frequency electrohydraulic shockwave systems address the impracticality and inefficiency of current systems by adjusting pulse rates and power levels based on tissue viscoelasticity, achieving predictable and efficient therapeutic effects with reduced tissue damage and treatment time.

Inactive Publication Date: 2020-10-08
BOARD OF RGT THE UNIV OF TEXAS SYST +1
View PDF0 Cites 2 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach enables more efficient and predictable therapeutic effects with reduced treatment time and lower power usage, minimizing tissue damage and improving the practicality and cost-effectiveness of shockwave therapies.

Problems solved by technology

Prior art literature has indicated that faster pulse rates using EH systems to provide shockwaves can lead to tissue damage.
The authors of another paper (Freund, Colonius, & Evan, 2007) [4] hypothesize that the cumulative shear of the many shocks is damaging, and that the mechanism may depend on whether there is sufficient time between shocks for tissue to relax to the unstrained state.
Conversely, damage should increase for faster delivery rates.
As a result, potential damage to tissue from shockwaves at PRs between 1 Hz and 10 Hz is unpredictable when typical lithotripsy power levels are used.
When, as may be typical, a treatment requires repositioning of a device at multiple treatment sites, the TTPT becomes large and potentially impractical for many patients and treatment needs.
While long treatment times may be acceptable for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, the use of shockwaves to provide non-lithotripsy therapeutic effects on tissue in the medical setting is less than optimal if not impractical.
For example, the cost of treatment often increases with the time needed to administer a treatment (e.g., due to the labor, facilities and other resource costs allocated to the administration of the treatment).
Furthermore, in addition to costs, at some point the duration of providing treatment to the patient becomes unbearable for the patient receiving, and healthcare staff providing, the treatment.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0081]FIG. 2A depicts an enlarged cross-sectional view of first embodiment of a removable spark head or module 22a. In the embodiment shown, spark head 22a comprises a sidewall 120 defining a spark chamber 124, and a plurality of electrodes 100a, 100b, 100c disposed in the spark chamber. In the embodiment shown, spark chamber 124 is filled with liquid 128 which may be similar to liquid 54 (FIG. 1). At least a portion of sidewall 120 comprises an acoustically permeable or transmissive material (e.g., a polymer such as polyethylene) configured to permit sound waves and / or shockwaves generated at the electrodes to travel through sidewall 120 and through chamber 18a. For example, in the embodiment shown, spark head 22a includes a cup-shaped member 132 that may be configured to be acoustically reflective and an acoustically permeable cap member 136. In this embodiment, cap member 136 is dome shaped to approximate the curved shape of an expanding wavefront that originates at the electrode...

second embodiment

[0083]FIG. 2B depicts an enlarged cutaway side view of a removable spark head or module 22b. In the embodiment shown, spark head or module 22b comprises a sidewall 120a defining a spark chamber 124a, and a plurality of electrodes 100d-1, 100d-2, 100, 100f disposed in the spark chamber. In the embodiment shown, spark chamber 124a is filled with liquid 128a which may be similar to liquid 128 and / or 54. At least a portion of sidewall 120a comprises an acoustically permeable or transmissive material (e.g., a polymer such as polyethylene) configured to permit sound waves and / or shockwaves generated at the electrodes to travel through sidewall 120a and through chamber 18a (FIG. 2). For example, in the embodiment shown, spark head 22b includes a cup-shaped member 132a that may be configured to be acoustically reflective and an acoustically permeable cap member 136a. In this embodiment, cap member 136a is dome shaped to approximate the curved shape of an expanding wavefront that originates ...

third embodiment

[0089]FIG. 2C depicts an enlarged cutaway side view of a removable spark head or module 22c. Spark head 22c is substantially similar to spark head 22b, except as noted below, and similar reference numerals are therefore used to designate structures of spark head 22c that are similar to corresponding structures of spark head 22b. The primary difference relative to spark head 22b is that spark head 22c includes a beam 172a that does not have a hinge, such that flexing of the beam itself provides the movement of electrodes 100d-1 and 100d-2 in the up and down directions indicated by arrows 180, as described above for spark head 22b. In this embodiment, the resonant frequency of spark head 22c is especially dependent on the physical properties (e.g., mass, stiffness, cross-sectional shape and area, length, and / or the like) of beam 172a. As described for spring arms 184 of spark head 22b, beam 172a is configured to be biased toward electrode 100e, as shown, such that electrode 100d-1 is ...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for electrohydraulic generation of shockwaves at a rate of between 10 Hz and 5 MHz, and / or that permit a user to view a region of a patient comprising target cells during application of generated shockwaves to the region. Methods of applying electro-hydraulically generated shockwaves to target tissues (e.g., for reducing the appearance of tattoos, treatment or reduction of certain conditions and / or maladies).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims priority from and is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 798,710, filed Mar. 13, 2013, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 775,232, filed Mar. 8, 2013, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to therapeutic uses for shock waves or shockwaves. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to an apparatus for generating therapeutic shock waves or shockwaves (shock waves with therapeutic uses).2. Description of Related Art[0003]Acoustic shockwaves have been used for certain therapies for a number of years. “Shock wave” or “shockwave” is generally used to refer to an acoustic phenomenon (e.g., resulting from an explosion or lightning) that creates a sudden and intense change in pressure. These...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61N7/00A61B17/225G10K15/04G10K11/26A61H23/00
CPCG10K15/043A61B2090/3616G10K11/26A61H23/0236A61N7/00A61H2201/5005A61B2017/00769A61H2201/1238A61B2017/22024A61H2201/0153A61H2201/1207A61H2201/10A61B17/225A61H2201/105A61H23/008A61B17/2251A61N2007/0034A61H2201/1635A61N2007/0008A61N2007/0013A61B2017/0046A61N2007/0047A61N2007/0056
Owner BOARD OF RGT THE UNIV OF TEXAS SYST