US5687729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Source of therapeutic acoustic waves introducible into the body of a patient
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1995-06-20
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Granted: 1997-11-18
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Expires: 2015-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A source of therapeutic acoustic waves for minimally invasive treatment of internal body regions with the therapeutic acoustic waves has a number of source parts which emit the acoustic waves. In order to be able to apply the source easily in the inside of the body in a simple way, source parts are arranged so as to be foldable in an introduction position giving the source a relatively small cross section as viewed in the introduction direction. After introduction into a patient the source parts are unfolded into a working position.
Inventors
- 👤 Ulrich Schaetzle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N7/00; A61N7/02; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61B17/22012; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/3474; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00274; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00547; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/12; A61M; A61M13/00; A61M13/003; A61N2007/0078; A61N2007/0086; A61N2007/0095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A source of therapeutic acoustic waves comprising: at least two source elements each emitting therapeutic acoustic waves; an instrument on which said at least two source elements are mounted adapted for introducing said at least two source elements into a body of a patient; and means for mounting said at least two source elements on said instrument for permitting movement of said at least two source elements between an introduction position wherein said at least two source elements are relatively rotatably folded together in a first configuration and a working position wherein said at least two source elements are relatively rotatably unfolded in a second configuration, and vice versa, said first configuration having cross-sectional dimensions which are smaller than cross-sectional dimensions of said second configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A source of therapeutic acoustic waves comprising: at least two source elements each emitting therapeutic acoustic waves; an instrument on which said at least two source elements are mounted adapted for introducing said at least two source elements into a body of a patient; and means for mounting said at least two source elements on said instrument for permitting movement of said at least two source elements between an introduction position wherein said at least two source elements are relatively rotatably folded together in a first configuration and a working position wherein said at least two source elements are relatively rotatably unfolded in a second configuration, and vice versa, said first configuration having cross-sectional dimensions which are smaller than cross-sectional dimensions of said second configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said instrument has an introduction direction along which said instrument is adapted for introduction into said patient, and wherein said means for mounting said at least two source elements comprises means for pivotably connecting said at least two source elements for folding said at least two source elements around an axis proceeding substantially parallel to said introduction direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least two source elements in said introduction position have a first cross section and wherein said at least two source elements in said working position have a second cross section, and wherein a smallest circle circumscribable around said first cross section has a smaller diameter than a smallest circle circumscribable around said second cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 comprising three of said source elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A source as claimed in claim 4 wherein said instrument has an introduction direction along which said instrument is adapted for introduction into said patient, and wherein said three source elements, as seen in said introduction direction, are disposed to form an isosceles triangle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A source as claimed in claim 5 wherein said three source elements are disposed to form an equilateral triangle as seen in said introduction direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said instrument has an introduction direction along which said instrument is adapted for introduction into said patient, and wherein said instrument with said at least two source elements mounted thereon in said introduction position has a rounded exterior cross-sectional contour as seen in said introduction direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said at least two source elements emits focussed therapeutic acoustic waves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A source as claimed in claim 8 wherein said at least two source elements respectively emit therapeutic acoustic waves which converge in a common focus zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A source as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least two source elements are mounted on said instrument for allowing said therapeutic acoustic waves to converge in said common focus zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said at least two source elements comprises an array of a plurality of piezoelectric ultrasound transducer elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A source as claimed in claim 11 wherein said array comprises a linear array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A source as claimed in claim 11 further comprising means for driving each array as a phased array.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said at least two source elements comprises a source element emitting focussed therapeutic acoustic waves converging in a common focus zone, and means for displacing said focus zone relative to said instrument.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for selectively operating at least one of said source elements for emitting diagnostic ultrasound waves or said therapeutic acoustic waves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A source as claimed in claim 15 wherein said means for selectively operating said source elements comprises means for operating only one of said source elements for selectively emitting diagnostic ultrasound waves or said therapeutic acoustic waves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
A source as claimed in claim 15 further comprising means for generating an ultrasound image from diagnostic ultrasound waves emitted by said at least one source element which are reflected by said patient, and wherein said source elements, in combination, comprise means for emitting said therapeutic acoustic waves converging in a common focus zone, and further comprising means for mixing a mark into said ultrasound image identifying a current position of said focus zone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A source as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a needle guide attached to said source for inserting a needle into an organ of said patient.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A source as claimed in claim 18 comprising means for mixing a further mark into said ultrasound image identifying a path of said needle in said organ.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a needle guide attached to said source for inserting a needle into an organ in said patient.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A source as claimed in claim 20 wherein said instrument comprises a handle and wherein said needle guide is attached to said handle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A source as claimed in claim 1 wherein said instrument comprises a body portion on which said at least two source elements are mounted, and a handle attached to said body portion by an articulated connection.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A source as claimed in claim 22 further comprising a needle and a needle guide attached to said handle for inserting a needle into an organ in said patient.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A source as claimed in claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises a handle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A source as claimed in claim 24, wherein said handle is connected to said instrument by an articulated connection.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for treating internal body regions with focused therapeutic acoustic waves, comprising: a source of therapeutic acoustic waves adapted for introduction into a body of a patient having a plurality of source elements movable between an introduction position wherein said source elements are relatively rotatably folded together in a first configuration and a working position wherein said source elements are relatively rotatably unfolded in a second configuration, said first configuration having cross-sectional dimensions which are smaller than cross-sectional dimensions of said second configuration; means for driving said source for emitting therapeutic acoustic waves converging at a focus zone; means for driving said source for generating diagnostic ultrasound waves and for receiving corresponding ultrasound echoes from said patient for producing ultrasound images of said patient, and including means for mixing a mark into said ultrasound images identifying a current position of said focus zone; and means for adjusting a position of said focus zone for causing said focus zone to coincide with a region of said patient to be treated.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for treating internal body regions with focused therapeutic acoustic waves, comprising: a source of therapeutic acoustic waves adapted for introduction into a body of a patient having a plurality of source elements movable between an introduction position wherein said source elements are relatively rotatably folded together in a first configuration and a working position wherein said source elements are relatively rotatably unfolded in a second configuration, said first configuration having cross-sectional dimensions which are smaller than cross-sectional dimensions of said second configuration; means for driving said source for emitting therapeutic acoustic waves converging at a focus zone; means for driving said source for generating diagnostic ultrasound waves and for receiving corresponding ultrasound echoes from said patient for producing ultrasound images of said patient, and including means for mixing a mark into said ultrasound images identifying a current position of said focus zone; and means for adjusting a position of said focus zone for causing said focus zone to coincide with a region of said patient to be treated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising an endoscope adapted for insertion into the body of said patient for monitoring application of said source in the interior of the body of the patient.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a needle and a needle guide attached to said source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 28 further comprising means for mixing a further mark into said ultrasound images identifying a path of said needle in said patient.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a pressure sensor and a needle adapted for introducing said pressure sensor into the body of said patient in a region to be treated by said therapeutic acoustic waves, and means for controlling said means for driving said source to generate said therapeutic acoustic waves dependent on pressure sensed by said pressure sensor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a temperature sensor and a needle adapted for introducing said temperature sensor into the body of said patient in a region to be treated by said therapeutic acoustic waves, and means for controlling said means for driving said source to generate said therapeutic acoustic waves dependent on temperature sensed by said temperature sensor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a needle adapted for introducing said pressure sensor and said temperature sensor into the body of said patient in a region to be treated by said therapeutic acoustic waves, and means for controlling said means for driving said source for generating said therapeutic acoustic waves dependent on pressure and temperature respectively sensed by said pressure sensor and said temperature sensor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said source is adapted for insertion into a body cavity in said patient, and said apparatus further comprising means for filling said body cavity with an acoustic propagation medium.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising means for filling a body accepting the source with an acoustic propagation medium.
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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) | 2000-11-17 | 2001-05-19 | 2001-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-05-19 | 2005-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-17 | 2009-05-19 | 2009-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |