# US 10,441,499 B1 · Acoustic shock wave devices and methods for generating a shock wave field within an enclosed space > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,499 B1 - Document ID: US10441499B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/164,702 - Filed: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-18 - Assignees: S-Wave Corp. - Applicants: S-Wave Medical Inc. - Inventors: Da Zhu; Zhuoyu Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441499B1 ## CPC - A61H 23/008: {using shock waves} - A61B 17/225: for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves - A61B 17/2251: {characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient} - A61H 9/0078: {with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs (mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776)} - A61H 23/0245: {with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric} - G10K 15/043: {producing shock waves (G10K15/046, G10K15/06 take precedence; generating seismic energy G01V1/02)} - G10K 15/06: using electric discharge - A61B 2017/22028: {arrays, e.g. phased arrays} - A61B 2017/2253: {using a coupling gel or liquid} - A61H 2201/0103: inflatable - A61H 2201/1207: with electric or magnetic drive - A61H 2201/1645: contoured to fit the user - A61H 2201/50: Control means thereof - A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors - A61H 2205/087: Genitals - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Devices and methods for generating acoustic shock wave within a cavity is disclosed. The shock wave device optionally includes a housing having a cylindrical portion and a cone frustum portion. The housing optionally forms a cavity configured to receive a body appendage. The shock wave device optionally includes a plurality of shock wave generators and a coupling assembly having a deformable sac configured to hold shock wave transmitting liquid. The volume of the transmitting liquid is optionally increased or decreased as needed so that the coupling assembly can conform to the shape of the body appendage. The shock waves generated optionally has an intensity gradient within the cavity of the shock wave device, where the intensity gradient is optionally controllable using a control and power supply unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: an extracorporeal shock wave apparatus, wherein the apparatus further comprising: a housing configured to enclose a body appendage in a cavity bound by the housing, the housing further comprising a first opening configured to receive the body appendage into the cavity; a plurality of shock wave generators, each shock wave generator configured to generate a shock wave propagating within the cavity, the plurality of shock wave generators comprise a plurality of conductive wire segments, wherein the plurality of conductive wire segments are parts of a single conductive wire wound around and along a substantially cylindrical inner surface of the housing, wherein the single conductive wire is wound around the substantially cylindrical inner surface of the housing such that shock wave energy generated by the plurality of shock wave generators is uniform or substantially uniform along a length of the housing; and a deformable coupling assembly covering the plurality of shock wave generators disposed over the plurality of shock wave generators such that the plurality of shock wave generators being sandwiched by the housing and the coupling assembly, wherein the deformable coupling assembly includes a deformable sac configured to contain shockwave-transmitting liquid; wherein the coupling assembly is configured to expand in accordance with a volume of the shockwave-transmitting liquid to conform to the circumference of the body appendage enclosed in the cavity, and wherein the coupling assembly is configured to transmit the plurality of shock waves to the body appendage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device in claim 1, wherein the housing has a substantially cylindrical shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprising a first portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and a second portion having a shape of a cone frustum, the cone frustum having a first base with a first circumference and a second base with a second circumference greater than the first circumference, the first portion and the second portion being connected at the first base of the second portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device in claim 1, wherein the plurality of shock wave generators are further configured to generate a shock wave field having an intensity gradient, the shock wave field comprising corresponding shock waves pressure pulses generated by each shock wave generator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device in claim 4, wherein each corresponding shock wave having an adjustable intensity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device in claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive wire segments is sandwiched by the housing and a conductive film, the plurality of conductive wire segments configured to conduct an electrical signal, and the conductive film configured to momentarily deform in response to an electromagnetic field generated by the electrical signal in the plurality of conductive wire segments. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device in claim 6, wherein each conductive wire segment of the plurality of conductive wire segments comprises a turn in the conductive wire wound in the shape of a coil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device in claim 1, wherein the coupling assembly comprising a sac configured to contain a volume of liquid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device in claim 8, wherein the sac is configured to deform in accordance with the volume of liquid contained in the sac, the volume of liquid being between a minimum percentage of a volume of the cavity and a maximum percentage of the volume of the cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device in claim 1, further comprising a control and power supply unit configured to connect to the plurality of shock wave generators, the control and power supply unit configured to control the coupling assembly and a group of the plurality of shock wave generators. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: at an extracorporeal shock wave apparatus comprising a housing, a cavity bound by the housing, a first opening in the housing, a plurality of shock wave generators, wherein the plurality of shock wave generators comprise a plurality of conductive wire segments, wherein the plurality of conductive wire segments are parts of a single conductive wire wound around and along the substantially cylindrical inner surface of the housing and wherein the single conductive wire is wound around the substantially cylindrical inner surface of the housing such that shock wave energy generated by the plurality of shock wave generators is uniform or substantially uniform along a length of the housing, and a deformable coupling assembly disposed over the plurality of shock wave generators such that the plurality of shock wave generators being sandwiched by the housing and the coupling assembly, wherein the deformable coupling assembly includes a deformable sac configured to contain shockwave-transmitting liquid and wherein the coupling assembly is configured to expand in accordance with a volume of the shockwave-transmitting liquid to conform to the circumference of the body appendage enclosed in the cavity: receiving a body appendage through the first opening into the cavity; enclosing the body appendage using the housing; generating, using the plurality of shock wave generators, a plurality of shock wave pressure pulses propagating within the cavity; and transmitting, using the coupling assembly connected to and covering the plurality of shock wave generators, the plurality of shock wave pressure pulses to the body appendage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method in claim 11, wherein the housing has a substantially cylindrical shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method in claim 11, wherein the housing further comprising a first portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and a second portion having a shape of a cone frustum, the cone frustum having a first base with a first circumference and a second base with a second circumference greater than the first circumference, the first portion and the second portion being connected at the first base of the second portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method in claim 11, wherein generating a plurality of shock wave pressure pulses propagating within the cavity further comprising generating a shock wave field having an intensity gradient, the shock wave field comprising corresponding shock waves pressure pulses generated by each shock wave generator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method in claim 14, wherein each corresponding shock wave having an adjustable intensity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method in claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive wire segments are sandwiched by the inner surface of the housing and a conductive film, the method further comprising: transmitting an electrical signal through the plurality of conductive wire segments; and causing the conductive film to momentarily deform in response to an electromagnetic field generated by the electrical signal in the plurality of conductive wire segments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method in claim 16, wherein each conductive wire segment of the plurality of conductive wire segments comprises a turn in the conductive wire wound in the shape of a coil. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method in claim 11, wherein the coupling assembly comprising a sac disposed on the second surface of the housing, the sac configured to contain a volume of liquid, the method further comprising: filling the sac with the volume of liquid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method in claim 18, wherein the sac is configured to deform in accordance with the volume of liquid contained in the sac, the method further comprising: in accordance with a determination that a measured pressure has not reached a predefined maximum threshold, continuing filling the sac with the liquid; and in accordance with a determination that the measured pressure has reached the predefined maximum threshold, stopping filling the sac with the liquid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method in claim 19, wherein the apparatus further comprising a control and power supply unit configured to connect electrically to the plurality of shock wave generators, wherein filling the sac comprises: controlling a group of the plurality of shock wave generators using the power supply and control unit; and filling the sac with the volume of liquid using the control and power supply unit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method in claim 20, wherein controlling the group of the plurality of shock wave generators using the power supply and control unit further comprising: generating, at the power supply and control unit, a pulsed electrical signal; and transmitting the pulsed signal to the group of the plurality of shock wave generators. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting the plurality of shock wave to the body appendage includes distributing the plurality of shock wave to substantially the entire volume of the body appendage.