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US 12,636,026 B2Granted
Ultrasonic probe
AssigneeGyrus ACMI, Inc.
InventorsCharles A. Baker, James Macione, Dennis G. Lamser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of treating a calculi mass can include using an ultrasonic probe to produce acoustic energy and fragment the mass. The method can include varying the frequency at which fragmentation occurs to treat the mass with a resonant frequency. The ultrasonic probe can have a distal tip for contact with the mass, where the tip has a morphology for concentrating stress on the mass. The ultrasonic probe can have two or more ultrasonic horns to allow for higher voltage and power levels.
Claims15
A device for acoustic calculus fracture, the device comprising:
- an acoustic transducer for transferring acoustic energy via the device to fracture a calculus mass;
- an acoustically-transmissive elongated probe coupled to the acoustic transducer, the probe extending between a distal portion and a proximal portion;
- an acoustic horn extending along the probe and comprising a length sufficient to increase an amplitude of displacement of the acoustic energy, the acoustic horn comprising:
- a proximal section comprises a first wall thickness;
- a distal section comprising a second wall thickness thinner than the first wall thickness;
- and
- a taper section beginning at or beyond a location of a last stationary node of a displacement waveform in a distal direction, the taper section extending between the proximal section and the distal section, wherein the wall in the taper section continuously tapers from the first wall thickness to the second wall thickness over the length;
- a probe tip extending from the distal portion of the probe, the probe tip configured to contact a targeted calculi mass;
- and
- a probe body extending from the acoustic transducer towards the probe tip.
7 more elements
An apparatus for treating a calculus mass with an acoustic probe, the apparatus comprising:
- the acoustic probe comprising an acoustic transducer;
- an input interface configured to receive, from a controller circuitry, a plurality of drive signal components corresponding to a plurality of frequencies, to produce an acoustic resonance frequency of the acoustic probe that is targeted to the calculus mass;
- an acoustic waveguide extending distally from the acoustic transducer, the acoustic waveguide configured to propagate an acoustic waveform based on the targeted acoustic resonance frequency;
- a probe tip distal of the acoustic transducer, the probe tip longitudinally displaceable by the propagated acoustic waveform to fracture the calculus mass;
- and
- an acoustic horn extending along the probe tip and comprising a length sufficient to increase an amplitude of displacement of the acoustic waveform, the acoustic horn comprising a taper section beginning at or beyond a location of a last stationary node of the acoustic waveform in a distal direction, wherein a wall in the taper section continuously tapers from a first wall thickness to a second wall thickness over the length.
3 more elements
A device for acoustic calculus fracture, the device comprising:
- an acoustic transducer for transferring acoustic energy via the device to fracture a calculus mass;
- an acoustically-transmissive elongated probe coupled to the acoustic transducer, the probe extending between a distal portion and a proximal portion;
- an acoustic horn extending along the probe and comprising a length sufficient to increase an amplitude of displacement of a displacement waveform, the acoustic horn comprising a taper section beginning at or beyond a location of a last stationary node of the displacement waveform in a distal direction, wherein a wall in the taper section continuously tapers from a first wall thickness to a second wall thickness over the length;
- and
- a probe tip extending from the distal portion of the probe, wherein the probe tip comprises a flat leading surface surrounding a lumen, the flat leading surface having one or more recesses extending proximally from the flat leading surface such that the probe tip has one or more pressure points for coming into contact with the calculus mass, wherein the leading surface comprises a flat semi-cylindrical surface.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.