Tiltable Shock Wave Source for Respiratory Motion Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extracorporeal shock wave therapy systems, such as lithotripters, face challenges in treating organs or areas within organs independently of respiration, often requiring complex and expensive mechanics to maintain effective focal volume alignment.
Innovation Solution
A shock wave device with a tiltable shock wave source, synchronized to patient body movements, allows for independent treatment of organs or areas by adjusting the focal volume to compensate for respiratory and other bodily movements, using a simple tilting mechanism that maintains system efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex mechanics are used to maintain focal volume alignment during respiration, then treatment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment systems with an optical/electronic tracking system using infrared cameras to monitor organ position and electronically adjust the shock wave source position, eliminating the need for complex mechanical compensation mechanisms while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where infrared cameras continuously track the position of infrared markers on the organ, and this position information is fed back to electronically adjust the shock wave source position in real-time, maintaining accurate focal volume alignment without complex mechanics
2Productivity
If shock wave source is fixed, then device simplicity is maintained, but treatment effectiveness decreases due to organ movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed shock wave source into a dynamically adjustable system where the source position is electronically modified in real-time based on organ movement detected by infrared cameras, allowing the focal volume to track with moving organs while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameters of the shock wave source dynamically based on real-time organ position data from infrared tracking, allowing the source to adapt to organ movement and maintain effective alignment without requiring complex mechanical reconfiguration
3Reliability
If treatment is synchronized to respiration frequency, then organ movement is compensated, but treatment time is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous shock wave delivery by decoupling treatment from respiration cycles, allowing the shock wave source to continuously track and treat the organ regardless of respiratory phase, thereby eliminating treatment interruptions and extending total treatment time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from periodic shock wave delivery synchronized to respiration to continuous delivery by using real-time optical tracking to continuously adjust source position, allowing shock waves to be delivered at higher frequencies independent of respiratory periodicity
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 solution enables high-energy coupling into targeted areas, such as kidney stones, with high treatment efficiency, independent of respiration frequency, while keeping the system design simple and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
a shock wave source (120) which may be of any type suitable for generating shock waves. It may include a shock wave generator and/or transducer, which may include at least one of a coil, a spark gap or a Piezo transducer
Implementation Method 2
the shock wave source (120) may be tiltable around at least one tilt axis (130) which may be approximately parallel to a plane defined by a surface of a patient table
Implementation Method 3
Tilting is synchronized to the motion of the patient body, which may be sensed by a motion sensor or by a respiration sensor
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
A shock wave device, e.g. a lithotripter comprises a patient table and a shock wave source below the patient table, the table defining a table plane. The shock wave source is coupled to a tilt drive and configured for a tilting movement around a tilt axis parallel to the table plane. The tilt drive is coupled to a respiration sensor and configured for a tilting movement as a function of a respiration sensor signal from the respiration sensor.