US5316000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Use of at least one composite piezoelectric transducer in the manufacture of an ultrasonic therapy apparatus for applying therapy, in a body zone, in particular to concretions, to tissue, or to bones, of a living being and method of ultrasonic therapy
Assignee: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
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Filing: 1992-01-21
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2012-01-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a composite piezoelectric transducer for making an acoustic or an ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus. The transducer may be a single large-size transducer or it may be a multi-transducer device and it advantageously emits ultrasonic waves that are focused on a focal point.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Yves Chapelon
- 👤 Dominique Cathignol
- 👤 Emmanuel Blanc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61B17/22012; A61B17/2202; A61N; A61N7/00; A61N7/02; A61N7/022; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00274; A61B2017/22021; A61B2017/22025; A61B2017/22027; A61B2017/22028; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for effecting therapeutic treatment of a body zone, comprising: providing at least one composite piezoelectric transducer element for emitting ultrasound waves, wherein said composite transducer element comprises piezoelectric ceramic material in combination with a polymer; and applying a current to said composite piezoelectric transducer element for causing said piezoelectric transducer element to emit ultrasound waves having sufficient acoustic energy for effecting said therapeutic treatment of said body zone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for effecting therapeutic treatment of a body zone, comprising: providing at least one composite piezoelectric transducer element for emitting ultrasound waves, wherein said composite transducer element comprises piezoelectric ceramic material in combination with a polymer; and applying a current to said composite piezoelectric transducer element for causing said piezoelectric transducer element to emit ultrasound waves having sufficient acoustic energy for effecting said therapeutic treatment of said body zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of focusing said ultrasound waves emitted by said piezoelectric transducer element to a focus, and bringing said body zone into coincidence with said focus for effecting said therapeutic treatment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing at least one composite piezoelectric transducer element comprises providing a plurality of composite piezoelectric transducer elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of focusing said ultrasound waves comprises orienting said plurality of composite piezoelectric transducer elements such that their respective emitted ultrasound waves coincide at said focus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of focusing said ultrasound waves comprises applying current to said plurality of composite piezoelectric transducer elements with predetermined phase shifts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of applying a current to said plurality of composite piezoelectric transducer elements comprises applying a sufficient current for generating an energy greater than 0.01 joule per pulse.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of claim, wherein said step of applying a current comprises applying a current for effecting one of lithotrity, hyperthermia and tissue removal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of using at least a first piezoelectric transducer element for effecting imaging of said body zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of selectively applying said current to said at least a first piezoelectric transducer element for effecting imaging of said body zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of applying a current comprises applying a current for effecting one of lithotrity, hyperthermia and tissue removal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of applying a current to said at least one composite piezoelectric transducer element comprises applying a sufficient current for generating an energy greater than 0.01 joule per pulse.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of applying a current comprises applying a current for effecting one of lithotrity, hyperthermia and tissue removal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for effecting therapeutic treatment of a body zone, comprising: at least one composite piezoelectric transducer element for emitting ultrasound waves, wherein said composite transducer element comprises piezoelectric ceramic material in combination with a polymer; and means for applying a current to said composite piezoelectric transducer element for causing said piezoelectric transducer element to emit ultrasound waves having sufficient acoustic energy for effecting said therapeutic treatment of said body zone.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for effecting therapeutic treatment of a body zone, comprising: at least one composite piezoelectric transducer element for emitting ultrasound waves, wherein said composite transducer element comprises piezoelectric ceramic material in combination with a polymer; and means for applying a current to said composite piezoelectric transducer element for causing said piezoelectric transducer element to emit ultrasound waves having sufficient acoustic energy for effecting said therapeutic treatment of said body zone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for focusing said ultrasound waves emitted by said piezoelectric transducer element to a focus, whereby said body zone may be brought into coincidence with said focus for effecting said therapeutic treatment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one composite piezoelectric transducer element comprises a plurality of composite piezoelectric transducer elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for focusing said ultrasound waves comprises means for orienting said plurality of composite piezoelectric transducer elements such that their respective emitted ultrasound waves coincide at said focus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for focusing said ultrasound waves comprises means for applying current to said plurality of composite piezoelectric transducer elements with predetermined phase shifts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for applying a current to said plurality of composite piezoelectric transducer elements comprises means for applying a sufficient current for generating an energy greater than 0.01 joule per pulse.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said means for applying a current comprises means for applying a current for generating sufficient energy for effecting one of lithotrity, hyperthermia and tissue removal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least a first piezoelectric transducer element is useable for effecting imaging of said body zone and further comprises, means for selectively applying said current to said at least a first piezoelectric transducer element 4 effecting imaging of said body zone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for applying a current comprises means for applying a current for generating sufficient energy for effecting one of lithotrity, hyperthermia and tissue removal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for applying a current to said at least one composite piezoelectric transducer element comprises means for applying a sufficient current for generating a energy greater than 0.01 joule per pulse.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for applying a current comprises means for applying a current for generating sufficient energy for effecting one of lithotrity, hyperthermia and tissue removal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |