Treatment of body tissue by means of internal cavity resonance
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsLudwig R. Duykers, Joseph L. Percy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for treatment of tissue located in a specified reg of a mammal, the region being proximate to a gas filled cavity which is contained in a fluid medium within the mammal. The resonance frequency of the cavity is determined, and an acoustic signal having a frequency which is equal to the resonance frequency is directed upon the cavity to resonate the cavity, at a selected level of intensity, until a first phase of treatment has been concluded. Thereupon, a selected second phase in the treatment of the tissue is performed.
Claims15
A method for treatment of tissue located in a specified region of a mammal, said region being proximate to a gas filled cavity which is contained in a fluid medium within the mammal, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining the resonance frequency of said cavity;
- generating an acoustic signal having a frequency which is equal to said resonance frequency;
- directing said acoustic signal upon said cavity to resonate said cavity at a selected level of intensity until a first phase of said treatment has been concluded;
- and
- performing a second phase of said treatment after the conclusion of said first phase.
Apparatus for expelling foreign matter from a specified body cavity of a mammal, said foreign matter initially adhering to tissue contained within said cavity, said cavity having characteristics of a resonator, said apparatus comprising:
- means for generating an acoustic signal, the frequency of said acoustic signal being equal to the frequency at which said cavity resonates;
- means for providing an acoustic channel between said signal generating means and said cavity;
- focusing means for directing said acoustic signal through said acoustic channel to said cavity to resonate said cavity until said foreign matter has been loosened from said tissue;
- and
- means for expelling said loosened foreign matter from said body cavity.
Diagnostic apparatus comprising:
- means for generating an acoustic signal, the frequency of said acoustic signal being equal to the frequency at which resonance occurs in a selected gas filled body cavity of a subject mammal;
- means for providing an acoustic channel between said signal generating means and said cavity;
- focusing means for directing said acoustic signal through said channel to said cavity to resonate said cavity for a selected time period and at a selected level of intensity;
- means for monitoring signals generated by the resonation of said cavity during said time period to provide a first set of acoustic data;
- and
- means for comparing said first set of acoustic data with a second set of acoustic data to determine the physical condition of said selected body cavity, said second set of acoustic data being obtained by resonating a body cavity of the same type as said selected body cavity, of a control mammal of the same type as said subject mammal which is known to be in sound physical condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.