Gaseous Membrane Reflection for Acoustic Shock Wave Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments using acoustic shock waves for appendages like hands, feet, penis, and scrotum face inefficiency due to rapid wave transmission through thin tissues, leading to energy loss and discomfort for the technician, and higher electrode wear due to increased shock wave exposure.
Innovation Solution
The use of a gaseous filled membrane, such as a balloon or glove, to reflect and redirect acoustic shock waves back into the appendage, combined with low-energy, unfocused acoustic shock waves, to enhance absorption and reduce technician exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If acoustic shock waves are transmitted through thin appendage tissue, then the treatment reaches the target tissue, but most of the transmitted energy exits the tissue quickly without being absorbed, leading to energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful energy loss (shock waves exiting the tissue) into a beneficial effect by using a reflective membrane to redirect the exiting waves back into the tissue. The membrane reflects the acoustic shock waves that would otherwise be lost, causing them to re-enter the tissue and be absorbed, thereby converting energy waste into therapeutic benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective membrane is positioned in advance on the distal surface of the appendage to prepare for the shock wave transmission. This preliminary placement ensures that when the shock waves exit the tissue, they are immediately reflected back without energy loss, maximizing absorption efficiency from the first wave transmission
2Object-affected harmful factors
If acoustic shock waves are transmitted through thin appendage tissue, then the treatment reaches the target tissue, but the technician experiences discomfort from exposed shock waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful exposure to shock waves (which causes technician discomfort) into a beneficial therapeutic effect. By placing the reflective membrane on the distal surface, the exiting shock waves are reflected back into the tissue instead of reaching the technician, transforming a harmful exposure into additional therapeutic benefit
3Reliability
If high energy acoustic shock waves are used to ensure adequate absorption, then treatment effectiveness improves, but electrode wear increases due to increased shock wave exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses low-energy acoustic shock waves in combination with the reflective membrane to achieve the same therapeutic effect that would require high-energy waves alone. The membrane reflects the exiting waves back into the tissue, so fewer waves with lower energy are needed to achieve adequate absorption, reducing electrode wear while maintaining treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts what would be energy loss (exiting shock waves) into additional therapeutic action by reflecting them back into the tissue. This allows the use of lower energy waves that still achieve adequate tissue absorption, thereby preserving electrode life while maintaining treatment reliability
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
This method increases shock wave exposure to the appendage, reduces the number of required shock waves, minimizes technician discomfort, and extends electrode life by reflecting waves back into the tissue, promoting effective cellular stimulation and vascularization without tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
placing a gaseous filled membrane on an opposite surface of the appendage; activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves from an acoustic shock wave applicator; and wherein the acoustic shock wave is transmitted from the acoustic shock wave applicator through the surface sending the emitted acoustic shock waves into the tissue of the appendage and exiting the opposite surface of the appendage to the gaseous filled membrane where a reflection of the acoustic shock wave occurs sending reflected acoustic shock waves back through the appendage
Data Source
AI summary
An improved method of treating an appendage of a patient using acoustic shock waves has the steps of: providing an appendage in need of an acoustic shock wave treatment; placing an acoustic shock wave applicator on a surface of the appendage; placing a gaseous filled membrane on an opposite surface of the appendage; activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves from an acoustic shock wave applicator; and wherein the acoustic shock wave is transmitted from the acoustic shock wave applicator through the surface sending the emitted acoustic shock waves into the tissue of the appendage and exiting the opposite surface of the appendage to the gaseous filled membrane where a reflection of the acoustic shock wave occurs sending reflected acoustic shock waves back through the appendage.