Dynamic Target Tracking in Shock Wave Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shock wave therapy devices face challenges in maintaining the target, such as urinary stones, within the focal area due to respiratory motion, leading to inefficiencies and reduced disintegration effectiveness, as the target moves relative to the shock wave focus during treatment.

Innovation Solution

A shock wave therapy device with a control unit that compensates for respiratory motion by moving the target relative to the shock wave focus using predefined movement patterns, allowing continuous shock wave application and maintaining the target within the focal area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If shock wave therapy is applied to disintegrate urinary stones, then the treatment effectiveness is improved, but the target position accuracy deteriorates due to respiratory motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidtarget position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously detects the patient's respiration state and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the shock wave focus position, ensuring the target remains accurately positioned despite respiratory motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The shock wave focus position is made dynamically adjustable to track and compensate for the moving target caused by respiration, rather than remaining fixed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the shock wave focus is kept fixed during treatment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the treatment productivity deteriorates due to interruptions when target moves out of focus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidtreatment productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic focus tracking that automatically follows the target's motion, eliminating treatment interruptions while maintaining continuous shock wave delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a control system that electronically adjusts the focus position based on detected respiration, reducing mechanical complexity while improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If respiratory motion compensation is implemented, then the target position accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget position accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses respiration detection feedback to automatically adjust focus position, achieving accurate target tracking through a relatively simple sensor-control mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the focus position parameter dynamically based on respiration detection, achieving accurate tracking through parameter adjustment rather than complex mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach ensures continuous and reliable shock wave delivery, reducing interruptions and improving treatment efficacy by stabilizing the target relative to the shock wave focus, even during respiratory cycles, making the procedure more robust and safe.

Implementation Method 1

a shock wave source (2), having a focus (4), which is configured to emit a shock wave onto a target (7) into a body (5) of a patient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock wave focusing: Focusing

Implementation Method 2

Focusing can be achieved, for example, by use of an acoustic lens

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic lens focusing: Acoustic Lens

Implementation Method 3

image modalities using both X-ray or ultrasound are common

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound imaging: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 4

image modalities using both X-ray or ultrasound are common

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectX-ray imaging: X-Ray

Implementation Method 5

a respiration detector, which is configured to detect the respiration of the patient and configured to produce a respiration signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRespiratory motion detection:

Implementation Method 6

a control unit, which is configured to move the target relative to the emitted shock wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical positioning:

Data Source

PatentEP2628456B1Shock wave therapy device with dynamic target tracking

Publication Date: 2015.08.12 DORNIER MEDTECH SYST GMBH

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AI summary

The invention concerns shock wave therapy device (1) with a shock wave therapy source (2) that is configured to emit a focused shock wave (4) onto a target (7) in a body of a patient (5), with an imaging device (10), which is configured to visualize the target (7), with a control unit, which is configured to move the target (7) relative to the emitted shock wave (4), with a respiration detector (13), which is configured to detect the respiration of a patient (5) and configured to produce a respiration signal, characterized by the control unit being configured to control the movement of the target (7) in accordance with a predefined movement pattern.