US5178135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Therapeutical apparatus of extracorporeal type
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1991-09-05
•
Granted: 1993-01-12
•
Expires: 2011-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A therapeutical apparatus includes a measuring apparatus including a probe which generates an X-ray or ultrasonic wave in order to detect the location of a target to be treated such as calculi situated within the kidney, liver, biliary ducts. A therapeutical energy generator generates a shock wave of sufficient energy for purpose of therapy externally of the physical body and focusses it upon the target. Structure is provided for causing a displacement of the generator and the measuring apparatus around the surface of a patient. Structure is provided to activate the generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Naoki Uchiyama
- 👤 Takashi Tsukaya
- 👤 Kouichiro Ishihara
- 👤 Sakae Takehana
- 👤 Tetsumaru Kubota
- 👤 Syuichi Takayama
- 👤 Akira Taniguchi
- 👤 Nobuhiko Watanabe
- 👤 Naomi Sekino
- 👤 Hiroki Hibino
- 👤 Masaaki Hayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/225; A61B17/2255; A61B17/2256; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00694; A61B2017/00699
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An extracorporeal therapeutic apparatus, comprising: a shock wave generator having a nominal focal point and being adjustable over a range of focal points, said nominal focal point being located in the middle of said range; human assisted location means for adjusting the relative position of said shock wave generator and a patient to be treated by said apparatus so that said shock wave generator is positioned at a location at which said nominal focal point corresponds with the initial position of a target within said patient; automatic tracking means for tracking subsequent movement of said target from said nominal focal point and for generating an output signal indicative of said subsequent movement of said target; and focusing means for adjusting the effective focal point of said shock wave generator as a function of said output signal to cause said effective focal point to coincide with the actual location of said target.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An extracorporeal therapeutic apparatus, comprising: a shock wave generator having a nominal focal point and being adjustable over a range of focal points, said nominal focal point being located in the middle of said range; human assisted location means for adjusting the relative position of said shock wave generator and a patient to be treated by said apparatus so that said shock wave generator is positioned at a location at which said nominal focal point corresponds with the initial position of a target within said patient; automatic tracking means for tracking subsequent movement of said target from said nominal focal point and for generating an output signal indicative of said subsequent movement of said target; and focusing means for adjusting the effective focal point of said shock wave generator as a function of said output signal to cause said effective focal point to coincide with the actual location of said target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
An extracorporeal therapeutic apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said shock wave generator comprises a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators each of which generates a respective shock wave when it is enabled, the location of said ultrasonic vibrators causing said respective shock waves to focus upon said nominal focal point when all of said ultrasonic vibrators are enabled simultaneously; and said focusing means adjusts said effective focal point by controlling the timing at which each of said ultrasonic vibrators is enabled.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for focusing a shock wave generated by a shock wave generator having a nominal focal point upon a target within a patient and being adjustable over a range of focal points, said nominal focal point being located in the middle of said range, said method comprising the steps of: adjusting, with the aid of a human operator, the initial position of said shock wave generator relative to a patient to be treated, so that said shock wave generator is positioned at a location at which said nominal focal point coincides with the initial position of a target within said patient; automatically tracking the subsequent movement of said target from said nominal focal point and generating an output signal indicative of said subsequent movement of said target; and automatically adjusting the effective focal point of said shock wave generator as a function of said output signal to cause said effective focal point of said shock wave generator to coincide with said actual location of said target.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for focusing a shock wave generated by a shock wave generator having a nominal focal point upon a target within a patient and being adjustable over a range of focal points, said nominal focal point being located in the middle of said range, said method comprising the steps of: adjusting, with the aid of a human operator, the initial position of said shock wave generator relative to a patient to be treated, so that said shock wave generator is positioned at a location at which said nominal focal point coincides with the initial position of a target within said patient; automatically tracking the subsequent movement of said target from said nominal focal point and generating an output signal indicative of said subsequent movement of said target; and automatically adjusting the effective focal point of said shock wave generator as a function of said output signal to cause said effective focal point of said shock wave generator to coincide with said actual location of said target.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2947889A
Cited
US3517665A
Cited
US3772538A
Cited
US4169984A
Cited
US4526168A
Cited
US4617931A
Cited
US4617931B1
Cited
US4821729A
Cited
US4669483A
Cited
US4634420A
Cited
US4796613A
Cited
US4771787A
Cited
US4861332A
Cited
US4763652A
Cited
US4958639A
Cited
US4836191A
Cited
US4886060A
Cited
US4803445A
Cited
US4803445B1
Cited
US4803445B2
Cited
US4803445B3
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |