Patent US5285772A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5285772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Therapy apparatus for treating a patient with focused acoustic waves
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1992-10-13
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Granted: 1994-02-15
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Expires: 2012-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A therapy system for treating a subject with focused acoustic waves for use with a separately available x-ray examination device for forming a high-grade acoustic therapy work station with x-ray locating disclosed. The therapy system includes a therapy head having an x-ray impermeable mark used to align the therapy system with a subject during the x-ray locating, and an acoustic sensing component, which identifies the distance between an acoustic wave source in the therapy head and a region of the subject to be treated, for relatively positioning the subject and the therapy head so that the region is in the focus of the acoustic waves.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Rattner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/225; A61B17/2255; A61B17/2256; A61B17/2258; A61N; A61N7/00; G; G01; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H3/005; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00902; A61B90/00; A61B90/39
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A therapy system for treating a region of a subject with focused acoustic waves comprising: a source of acoustic waves having an acoustic axis along which said acoustic waves propagate; means for focusing said acoustic waves to a focus on said acoustic axis; applicator means, containing an acoustic propagation medium, adapted to be disposed between said source and a region of said subject to be treated, for coupling said acoustic wave into said subject; an x-ray impermeable mark disposed on said acoustic axis; and means for acoustically identifying a distance between said source and a region of said subject to be treated for use in relatively positioning said source and said subject.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A therapy system for treating a region of a subject with focused acoustic waves comprising: a source of acoustic waves having an acoustic axis along which said acoustic waves propagate; means for focusing said acoustic waves to a focus on said acoustic axis; applicator means, containing an acoustic propagation medium, adapted to be disposed between said source and a region of said subject to be treated, for coupling said acoustic wave into said subject; an x-ray impermeable mark disposed on said acoustic axis; and means for acoustically identifying a distance between said source and a region of said subject to be treated for use in relatively positioning said source and said subject.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said applicator means has a central opening extending therethrough along said acoustic axis forming an x-ray transparent region, and said system further comprising an ultrasound applicator optionally disposable in said x-ray transparent region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said applicator means has a central opening extending therethrough along said acoustic axis forming an x-ray transparent region, and wherein said means for acoustically identifying a distance comprises a diagnostic ultrasound applicator disposed in said x-ray transparent region when identifying a distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
120 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for identifying a distance comprises: pressure sensor means, adapted to be disposed in a propagation path of said acoustic waves between said source and said region of said subject, for generating an electrical signal when traversed by an acoustic wave; means for pulsed operation of said source of acoustic waves; and means connected to said pressure sensor means for measuring a time span corresponding to the distance between said source and said region of said subject, said time span ending with the generation of a signal by said pressure sensor means corresponding to an echo from said region of said subject resulting from the pulse-like operation of said source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for pulsed operation of said source is a means for causing said source to generate acoustic waves with an intensity reduced in comparison to an intensity of acoustic waves used for therapy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source includes means for displacing said focus along said acoustic axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for displacing said focus comprises an acoustic lens with a variable focal length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising: control means for automatically displacing said focus along said acoustic axis, on the basis of signals from said means for identifying a distance, so that the distance of said region to be treated from said source is equal to the distance of the focus from said source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a further x-ray impermeable mark disposed on said acoustic axis spaced from said x-ray impermeable mark.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least said applicator means has an x-ray transparent region, and said therapy system further comprising: an x-ray transparent tube disposed in said applicator means along an acoustic axis, said tube displacing said acoustic propagation medium out of said x-ray transparent region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said x-ray impermeable mark is disposed on said tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source and said applicator means form, in combination, a therapy head, and further comprising a carriage supporting said therapy head and means for moving said carriage on a floor of an examination room.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said therapy system includes a plurality of components including said therapy head, and wherein said components are mounted on said carriage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising means for pivoting said therapy head through 180° around a substantially horizontal axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least said source has an x-ray transparent region through which said acoustic axis extends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said x-ray transparent region comprises a substantially centrally disposed opening in said source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said system further comprises a diagnostic ultrasound applicator optionally disposable in said x-ray transparent region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said means for acoustically identifying a distance comprises a diagnostic ultrasound applicator disposed in said x-ray transparent region when identifying a distance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 15 further comprising: an x-ray transparent tube extending through said x-ray transparent region for displacing said acoustic propagation medium out of said x-ray transparent region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said x-ray impermeable mark is disposed on said tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
A therapy system for treating a region of a subject with focused acoustic waves comprising: a source of acoustic waves having an acoustic axis along which said acoustic waves propagate; means for focusing said acoustic waves to a focus on said acoustic axis; applicator means, containing an acoustic propagation medium, adapted to be disposed between said source and a region of said subject to be treated, for coupling said acoustic waves into said subject; an x-ray impermeable mark disposed on said acoustic axis; and means for exclusively acoustically identifying a distance between said source and a region of said subject to be treated for use in relatively positioning said source and said subject.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
A therapy system for treating a region of a subject with focused acoustic waves comprising: a source of acoustic waves having an acoustic axis along which said acoustic waves propagate; means for focusing said acoustic waves to a focus on said acoustic axis; applicator means, containing an acoustic propagation medium, adapted to be disposed between said source and a region of said subject to be treated, for coupling said acoustic waves into said subject; an x-ray impermeable mark disposed on said acoustic axis; and means for exclusively acoustically identifying a distance between said source and a region of said subject to be treated for use in relatively positioning said source and said subject.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
122 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said means for exclusively acoustically identifying a distance comprises: pressure sensor means, adapted to be disposed in a propagation path of said acoustic waves between said source and said region of said subject, for generating an electrical signal when traversed by an acoustic wave; means for pulsed operation of said source of acoustic waves; and means connected to said pressure sensor means for measuring a time span corresponding to the distance between said source and said region of said subject, said time span ending with the generation of a signal by said pressure sensor means corresponding to an echo from said region of said subject resulting from the pulse-like operation of said source.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A therapy system as claimed in claim 21 wherein at least said applicator means has an x-ray transparent region, and wherein said means for exclusively identifying a distance comprises: an ultrasound applicator disposed in said x-ray transparent region; and non-imaging means for operating said ultrasound applicator solely for identifying said distance.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-14 | 1997-08-16 | 1998-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-14 | 2001-08-16 | 2002-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-14 | 2005-08-16 | 2006-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |