Unfocused Shock Wave Instrument for Bone Fracture Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical instruments for treating biological tissue using shock waves face challenges in uniformly irradiating large bone fracture areas, requiring complex movement mechanisms and location systems, which are time-consuming and costly, especially when focused shock waves are used.
Innovation Solution
A ballistic device that generates unfocused shock waves with a pneumatic drive system, featuring a quick-switching valve to control pressure and impact frequency, allowing for efficient energy transfer without increasing the instrument's size or working pressure, and using an impedance matching medium for improved coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If focused shock waves are used to treat biological tissue, then the pressure wave energy can be concentrated on a specific area, but the treatment cannot be uniformly applied over large areas without complex movement mechanisms and localization systems
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of focusing shock waves on a specific area using complex localization systems, the invention inverts the approach by using an unfocused shock wave source that naturally distributes energy over a large area. The shock wave generator is positioned away from the treatment area, allowing the shock waves to propagate through the tissue without requiring real-time localization or complex movement mechanisms to maintain focus.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical movement mechanisms and electronic localization systems with a simpler pneumatic shock wave generation system. The shock waves are generated ballistically using a pneumatic drive and transmitted through a transmission element, eliminating the need for mechanical positioning and real-time localization systems while achieving uniform energy distribution over large areas.
2Measurement precision
If multiple individual pulses are applied to the suspected pain site using focused shock waves, then the treatment can be targeted, but the process is very time-consuming due to repeated re-entry of treatment positions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the shock wave generator at a fixed location away from the treatment area before treatment begins. The shock waves are generated and propagate through the tissue in a predetermined manner, eliminating the need for repeated re-entry of treatment positions during the procedure. This preliminary positioning approach significantly reduces treatment time while maintaining effective treatment coverage.
3Ease of operation
If the shock wave generator is positioned close to the application site, then the treatment can be effectively applied, but the instrument size and working pressure would need to be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the spatial dimension of the shock wave generation approach by positioning the generator in a different location (away from the treatment area) rather than placing it directly at the application site. The shock waves propagate through the tissue in a controlled manner, allowing effective treatment without requiring the generator to be physically close to the target area. This dimensional repositioning enables smaller instrument size while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
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 uniform energy distribution over large areas with high pressure peak values, reducing treatment time and costs, and increasing impact frequency without the need for complex location systems, making it suitable for treatments like bone fractures and musculoskeletal pain therapy.
Implementation Method 1
a ballistic device for generating extracorporeal shock wave-like pressure waves... The impact element is accelerated by a pneumatic medium at operating pressure exceeding 5 m/s. The front part of the pressure channel is connected to a counter-pressure chamber into which the pneumatic medium, located distal to the impact element, can flow as the impact element accelerates towards the transmission element.
Implementation Method 2
The striking element exerts one or more force impulses on the transmission element, inducing shock-like pressure waves in the nearly stationary transmission element as a result of these impulses. These pressure waves propagate to the tip of the transmission element.
Implementation Method 3
The transmission element couples unfocused, ballistically generated, shock wave-like pressure waves into the biological tissue. The pressure waves, with their high peak pressure values, are thus generated ballistically in a simple manner.
Implementation Method 4
using an impedance matching medium for improved coupling
Data Source
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AI summary
In an instrument for treating biological tissue, comprising a housing (4) in which a ballistic device for generating extracorporeal shock wave-like pressure waves and a transmission element (2) permanently attached to the biological tissue for coupling the pressure waves into the body of living beings are arranged, wherein the transmission element (2) couples unfocused, ballistically generated, shock wave-like pressure waves into the biological tissue, which can be generated by a reciprocating impact element (10) accelerated to a high terminal velocity of over 5 m/s by a pneumatic medium under working pressure in a pressure channel (6) and impacting the transmission element (2), wherein the front part of the pressure channel (6) is connected to a counter-pressure chamber (8),In order for the pneumatic medium located distal to the striking element (10) to flow into the chamber into which the striking element (10) can flow when the striking element (10) is accelerated towards the transmission element (2), a fast-switching, electromagnetically controlled valve releases the pneumatic medium under operating pressure depending on the set impact frequency, wherein an opening (61) in the counter-pressure chamber (8) limits the pressure building up in the counter-pressure chamber (8).