High pressure ballistic extracorporeal shockwave device, system and method of use

A system (100, 101) for producing high pressure extracorporeal ballistic shockwaves (105), the system comprising:

• a. at least one high pressure ballistic shockwave applicator (130), comprising a projectile accelerating portion (140) and at least one shockwave generating portion (150);
• said shockwave (105) is generated by a collision between an accelerated projectile (142) disposed within said projectile accelerating portion against a shockwave generating surface (152) disposed in said shockwave generating portion (150);
• said shockwave generating surface (152) is configured to withstand high pressure ballistic impact with said projectile (142);
• b. said shockwave generating portion (150) comprising:
• i. said shockwave generating surface (152) that is configured to withstand high pressure ballistic impact with said projectile (142);
• ii. a focal surface (158) configured for shaping the generated shockwaves according to required treatment parameters;
• iii. a shockwave propagating medium (156) provided for propagating the shockwave from the focal surface (158) onto a treatment area (50) through a membrane (154);
• c. a gaseous high pressure source (110) and a high pressure flow controller (120) to energize and accelerate said projectile in a controllable and directed manner;
• the system characterized in that said gaseous high pressure source (110) is configured to provide an operational pressure of up to about 100 bar, wherein said operational pressure is utilized to accelerate said projectile (142).

A high pressure ballistic shockwave applicator (130) for producing extracorporeal shockwaves using a gaseous high pressure source (110) controllable with a high pressure flow controller (120) to energize and accelerate a projectile (142) in a controllable and directed manner, the device comprising:

• a. a projectile accelerating portion (140) including a projectile (142) within an accelerating conduit (144);
• said accelerating conduit having a proximal end (144p) and a distal end (144d);
• wherein said accelerating portion (140) is securely associated with a shockwave generating portion (150) about said distal end (144d,140d);
• and wherein said projectile is accelerated from said proximal end (144p) to said distal end (144d);
• said projectile accelerating portion (140) comprising a projectile stabilizer (148) disposed around said proximal end (144p) said stabilizer selected from a magnet or electromagnet;
• said accelerating conduit (144) comprising as inlet (146) at proximal end (144p) for receiving an operational pressure of up to about 100 bar from said high pressure source (110) via said high pressure flow controller (120), said operational pressure utilized to allow said projectile (142) to accelerate to a velocity of up to about 180 m/s so as to generate a ballistic shockwave (105) when said projectile collides with a shockwave generating surface (152);
• b. said shockwave generating portion (150) comprising said shockwave generating surface (152) that is configured to withstand high pressure ballistic impact with said projectile (142);
• a focal surface (158) configured for shaping the generated shockwaves according to required treatment parameters;
• a shockwave propagating medium (156) provided for propagating the shockwave from the focal surface (158) onto a treatment area (50) through a membrane (154);
• wherein said shockwave generating surface (152) is disposed about a proximal end of said shockwave generating portion at the distal end (144d) of said accelerating conduit, wherein said projectile (142) is accelerated toward and collides with said shockwave generating surface (152) to generate said shockwave.

A method for extracorporeal shockwave treatment with a ballistic shockwave system (101) utilizing a plurality of treatment applicators (130) associated with treatment heads (150), the method comprising:

• a. identifying and sizing a target treatment area (50) for extracorporeal shockwave treatment with an imaging device;
• b. identifying at least one or more treatment protocol parameters relative to said targeted treatment area (50) selected from shockwave parameters and treatment parameters,
• i. wherein, the shockwave parameters are selected from the group consisting of shockwave focal zone, shockwave intensity, shockwave frequency, number of shockwaves;
• or any combination thereof and,
• ii. wherein the treatment parameters are selected from the group consisting of depth of treatment, size of treatment area, size of target, or any combination thereof;
• iii. said treatment protocol parameters are configured both for each of said plurality of treatment applicators (130) and collectively for said system (101);
• c. setting said extracorporeal ballistic shockwave system (101) to generate shockwave according to said treatment protocol parameters;
• wherein said setting are configured for each treatment applicator (130) so as to produce the required a systemic shockwave treatment effect;
• and
• d. generating ballistic shockwave according to said setting, with said plurality of treatment heads (150) characterized in that said ballistic shockwave system utilizes an operational pressure of at least 50 bar to generate said ballistic shockwave.