Direct Contact Shockwave Transducer Solid Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic and piezoelectric shockwave transducers for medical applications require a propagating liquid medium for shockwave generation and focusing, which limits direct contact with the patient's body and may cause inefficiencies in energy transfer and tissue treatment.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and focusing pressure waves using a transducer in direct contact with the patient's body through a solid interface, with electrically safe and bio-compatible materials, and mechanically efficient acoustic impedance matching, allowing for various wave configurations and focusing techniques such as phased arrays and shaped membranes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a propagating liquid medium is used for shockwave generation, then shockwave formation and focusing can be achieved, but direct contact with the patient's body is limited and energy transfer efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the liquid propagation medium from the shockwave generation system, allowing the transducer to be in direct contact with the patient's body. This extraction eliminates the need for coupling liquids while maintaining shockwave generation capability through direct solid-to-tissue contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specialized transducer interface with acoustic impedance matching layers that act as an intermediary between the transducer and patient's body. This interface enables efficient energy transfer without requiring a liquid medium, resolving the contradiction between direct contact and energy transfer efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If a liquid acoustic coupling medium is used, then shockwave propagation can occur, but energy transfer to tissue is less efficient and treatment efficacy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the acoustic impedance parameters of the transducer interface to match those of human tissue, eliminating the need for liquid coupling media. This parameter matching maximizes energy transfer efficiency while maintaining treatment safety through direct solid contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials in the transducer interface with specifically engineered acoustic properties. These composite structures provide optimal acoustic impedance matching between the transducer and tissue, enabling efficient energy transfer without liquid mediators.
3Loss of energy
If direct contact transducer is used, then energy transfer is maximized, but acoustic impedance mismatch causes reflections and reduces focusing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transducer interface into multiple layers with progressively matched acoustic impedances. This segmentation allows gradual impedance transition, minimizing reflections while maintaining direct contact and energy transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies localized acoustic impedance matching layers at specific regions of the transducer interface where contact with the patient's body occurs. This local quality adjustment ensures optimal energy transfer and focusing precision at the critical interface regions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient coupling and focusing of pressure waves directly on the patient's body without a liquid medium, enhancing treatment efficacy and safety by minimizing reflections and maximizing energy transfer, suitable for diverse medical applications including lithotripsy and orthopedics.
Implementation Method 1
the shockwave source has a coil arrangement which serves as the stationary element... When the coil arrangement is charged with a high-voltage pulse, currents are induced in the membrane... As a consequence of the opposite magnetic fields arising due to the respective flows of current in the coil arrangement and in the membrane, the membrane is subjected to repelling forces
Implementation Method 2
A pressure pulse is thereby introduced into an acoustic propagation medium disposed adjacent the membrane. This pressure pulse intensifies during its path through the propagation medium to form a shockwave, as a consequence of the non-linear compression properties of the propagation medium
Implementation Method 3
The shockwave generating portion (14) of shockwave transducer (12) includes a membrane (14) configured to be conformably attached to a part of a patient's body... the membrane to repel and transmit pressure waves into the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A system is attachable to a surface of a tissue of a patient for applying pressure pulses to the tissue. The system includes a shockwave transducer that has a shockwave generating portion and a solid transducer interface arranged to directly contact a tissue of a patient. The shockwave generating portion includes an electrical-to-shockwave energy converter operable to generate shockwaves. The transducer interface includes an electrically safe and bio-compatible material arranged to transmit the shockwaves from the shockwave generating portion to the tissue.