Soft Tissue Treatment Probe with Piezoelectric Shockwave Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating soft tissue lack the ability to accurately measure and record forces and results dynamically, making it difficult to assess and treat soft tissue effectively in medical settings.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a piezoelectric sensor and electrode combination, where the piezoelectric sensor generates a waveform from a force impulse applied to soft tissue, and the electrode provides electrical stimulation, allowing for the measurement and treatment of soft tissue characteristics through percussive impact and electrical stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual assessment methods are used to evaluate soft tissue, then the therapist can assess tissue characteristics, but there is no accurate way to measure or record forces and dynamic responses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement functions (force sensing, displacement sensing, electrical stimulation, and galvanic response monitoring) into a single integrated treatment device. The treatment head merges the probe for delivering mechanical forces with sensors for measuring tissue response, eliminating the need for separate manual assessment tools and enabling objective quantification of soft tissue characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces piezoelectric sensors and other transducers as intermediary devices between the therapist's manual assessment and the tissue being treated. These sensors act as mediators that convert mechanical forces and tissue responses into measurable electrical signals, providing objective data about tissue elasticity, density, and other characteristics without requiring manual measurement.
2Reliability
If no objective measurement system is used, then the treatment process remains simple, but there is no scientific way to measure tissue response before, during, or after treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring tissue responses during treatment through piezoelectric sensors, displacement sensors, and galvanic response detection. The system measures tissue characteristics in real-time during treatment and compares pre-treatment and post-treatment measurements, providing objective feedback on treatment effectiveness and enabling data-driven adjustments to treatment parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment with electronic sensing systems. Instead of relying on the therapist's manual evaluation skills, the system uses piezoelectric sensors, displacement sensors, and electrical stimulation to objectively measure tissue properties such as elasticity, density, and response to treatment, providing reliable and reproducible measurements.
3Ease of operation
If manual therapy techniques are used, then the therapist can apply treatment forces, but there is no way to accurately deliver or record these forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the treatment device to self-monitor and self-record the forces applied during treatment through integrated piezoelectric sensors and displacement sensors. The system automatically measures and records treatment forces, displacement, and tissue responses without requiring manual measurement or external recording devices, providing objective data while maintaining ease of operation.
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 precise measurement and treatment of soft tissue by generating waveforms from force impulses and providing electrical stimulation, allowing for the analysis and improvement of tissue characteristics, effectively addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
the piezoelectric sensor generates a waveform from a force impulse traveling through the probe on account of the probe being displaced against the soft tissue
Implementation Method 2
an armature driven by a coil of a solenoid
Implementation Method 3
The electrode is supported on the probe and configured to both administer electrical stimulation to the soft tissue
Implementation Method 4
sense a galvanic response of the soft tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A system for treating soft tissue of a patient. The system includes a treatment head and a computer portion. The treatment head includes a probe and an electrode operably coupled to the probe. The probe and electrode are configured to respectively deliver a mechanical force impulse and an electrical stimulation to the soft tissue when placed in operable contact with the soft tissue. The computer portion includes a CPU and is configured to coordinate the delivery of the mechanical force impulse and electrical stimulation relative to each other. The system is configured to sense a shockwave in the soft tissue of the patient, the shockwave resulting from the mechanical force impulse delivered to the soft tissue via the probe. The system is also configured to analyze a characteristic of the sensed shockwave and configure the electrical stimulation to be delivered to the soft tissue via the electrode based on the characteristic analysis of the sensed shockwave. The characteristic may be at least one of frequency of the sensed shockwave, amplitude of the sensed shockwave, and/or wave shape (form) of the sensed shockwave.