Sintered Ceramic Impact Body for Pressure Wave Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for treating biological body substances with mechanical pressure waves often use metallic impact bodies that are not biocompatible, have high thermal conductivity, and are prone to damage, limiting their effectiveness and safety.

Innovation Solution

The use of sintered ceramic impact bodies, which offer improved biocompatibility, lower thermal conductivity, and increased durability, allowing for more efficient energy transfer and focused pressure wave generation, with preferred materials like silicon nitride for enhanced impact strength and acoustic impedance matching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metallic impact bodies are used, then impact strength and durability are sufficient, but biocompatibility is poor and allergy risks are high

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebiocompatibilityVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to sintered ceramic, which fundamentally alters the properties of the impact body. The ceramic material provides both the required impact resistance and improved biocompatibility, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses sintered ceramic materials, which are composite in nature, combining inorganic compounds with specific microstructures to achieve both mechanical strength and biocompatibility. The sintering process creates a dense, durable material that meets both criteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If metallic impact bodies are used, then structural strength is adequate, but thermal conductivity is high causing unpleasant thermal sensation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebiocompatibilityVSAvoidthermal conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter by switching from metal to ceramic material. Ceramics have inherently lower thermal conductivity than metals, reducing the thermal sensation during treatment and improving patient comfort while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If metallic impact bodies are used, then mass is sufficient for momentum transfer, but mass difference between impact part and impact body is large reducing energy transfer efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy transfer efficiencyVSAvoidmass

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the density parameter of the impact body material from metal to ceramic. Since ceramics have lower density than metals, the mass difference between the impact part and impact body is reduced, improving energy transfer efficiency during impact while the impact body retains sufficient mass for effective momentum transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Use of energy by moving object

If metallic impact bodies are used, then acoustic impedance matching with body tissue is poor, but this can be adjusted with ceramic materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic impedance matchingVSAvoidmaterial selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the acoustic impedance parameter by selecting ceramic materials with specific density and sound velocity characteristics. This allows the impact body to have acoustic impedance closer to that of body tissue, improving energy transfer and reducing reflections at the tissue interface.

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

Sintered ceramic impact bodies enable safer, more effective treatment of biological tissues with improved biocompatibility, reduced thermal sensation, and enhanced energy transfer, allowing for targeted pressure wave delivery with reduced risk of damage.

Implementation Method 1

designed to couple a mechanical pressure wave into the biological body substance by accelerating the impact part and impacting the impact part on the impact body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical pressure wave generation: Shock Wave

Data Source

PatentEP2095843B1Device for treating biological body substances with mechanical pressure waves

Publication Date: 2010.12.01 STORZ MEDICAL

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

The device has a striking unit (13) and an impact body (9'), which is made up of sintered ceramic. The ceramic contains 80 percent weight of oxides, carbides or nitrides. The impact body has a cylindrical shape with an entrance surface (15) perpendicular to a cylinder axis and an exit surface perpendicular to the cylinder axis. An independent claim is included for a method for manufacturing a device.