US 5,203,333 A · Acoustic wave therapy apparatus

Abstract

In an acoustic wave therapy apparatus, irradiation devices for generating acoustic waves for medical treatment are arranged on one side of a holder. A water bag is provided on the one side of the holder. The water bag is put in contact with the surface of a subject. A probe rod is arranged within the water bag advanceably and retractably through a through-hole formed in the holder. An ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic tomographic imaging is provided at an end portion of the probe rod. The probe rod has a rack gear. A pinion gear engaged with the rack gear, a drive shaft for driving the pinion gear, and a bearing seat for receiving the drive shaft are arranged on the other side of the holder. This apparatus is further provided with a pressing force maintaining device for limiting to a predetermined value the pressing force with which the end portion of the probe rod is pressed on the surface of the subject via the water bag, and a retracting device for retracting the probe rod when the end portion of the probe rod receives a predetermined upward force from the surface of the subject via the water bag. This apparatus can treat calculi and cancerous cells, while ensuring the safety for the subject.

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Drawings

Claims16

Dependent claims

An acoustic wave therapy apparatus comprising:

a holder having a central portion, a one side portion and another portion, said one side portion including a concave surface and said central portion including a through-hole;
acoustic wave generating means, provided on said one side portion of said holder, for generating acoustic waves for medical treatment;
a bag member arranged on said one side portion of the holder and adapted to be put in contact with a surface of a subject, and containing an acoustic wave propagation medium;
a rod member having an end portion inserted into said through-hole of the holder and arranged to be vertically movable in said bag member, and adapted to be placed in contact with the surface of the subject through said bag member;
an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic wave tomographic imaging, arranged on the end portion of the rod member;
a drive mechanism arranged on the other portion of the holder, for vertically moving the rod member within the through-hole relative to the holder;
and
a torque limiter provided on said drive mechanism for limiting to a predetermined value the pressing force with which the rod member is pressed on the subject.

5 more elements

An acoustic wave therapy apparatus comprising:

a holder having a central portion, a one side portion and another portion, said one side portion including a concave surface and said central portion including a through-hole
acoustic wave generating means, provided on said one side portion of said holder, for generating acoustic waves for medical treatment;
a bag member arranged on said one side portion of the holder and adapted to be put in contact with a surface of a subject, and containing an acoustic wave propagation medium;
a rod member inserted into said through-hole of the holder and arranged to be advanceably and retractably moved in said bag member, and adapted to be placed in contact with the surface of the subject through said bag member;
an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic wave tomographic imaging, provided at one end portion of the rod member;
a drive shaft member arranged on the other side portion of the holder, which is orthogonally extendible with respect to said rod member,
a rack gear provided on said rod member, which is extendable with respect to said rod member;
a pinion gear engaged with said rack gear and provided on said drive shaft member, which is driven by said drive shaft member;
a bearing seat, fixed to the other side portion of said holder;
pressing force maintaining means including at least a torque limiter, provided on said drive shaft member for limiting to a predetermined value the pressing force with which the rod member is pressed on the subject said torque limiter comprises a receiving plate mounted on said drive shaft member, for receiving said pinion gear, a first plate rotatably arranged on said drive shaft member, for clamping said pinion gear between itself and the receiving plate, a second plate fixed on said drive shaft at a distance from first plate, and a coil spring provided on said drive shaft between said first plate and said second plate, having a force of tension equal to an upper limit value of the pressing force of said rod member;
and
retracting means including at least a torsion spring mechanism for lifting said rod member with an upward force which is equivalent to the sum of the frictional force between said rod member and said holder and a downward force which is produced by the weight of said rod member, said ultrasonic probe and said rack gear, provided on said drive shaft member for retracting said rod member when the rod member receives a predetermined upward force from the subject, said torsion spring mechanism comprises a coil spring passed over said drive shaft member, provided between said bearing seat and said pinion gear and having one end portion fixed on said bearing seat and the other end portion fixed on said pinion gear.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,433 words

Summary1,575 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to an acoustic wave therapy apparatus for treating cancerous cells or calculi in a human body, using shock waves produced by acoustic waves or continuous acoustic waves, and more particularly to an ultrasonic shock wave lithotripsy apparatus and an ultrasonic continuous wave hyperthermic therapy apparatus.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

#FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a structure of a conventional acoustic wave therapy apparatus;

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a structure of an acoustic wave therapy apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description1,666 words

#An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

#In an acoustic wave therapy apparatus shown in FIG. 2, irradiation devices (as the acoustic wave generator) 10 and 12 for generating intense ultrasonic pulse waves or intense continuous ultrasonic waves are arranged on one side of a holder 14. A bellows 22-1 and a water bag 22-2, which constitute a bag member, are attached to the oscillators 10 and 12. The water bag 22-2 is put in contact with a surface 26 of a subject 24.

#An advanceable/retractable probe rod 32 is arranged in the water bag 22-2 passing through a hole formed in the holder 14. An ultrasonic probe 34 for ultrasonic tomographic imaging is provided at an end portion of the probe rod 32.

Facts

Application

07/931,497Filed 21 Aug 1992 · continuation

Priority

JP 1-12120715 May 1989

Granted

20 Apr 1993

Term ended

11 May 2010

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

A61B 17/2251
For extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves: characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g.…
A61B 6/102
Safety means specially adapted therefor: protection against mechanical damage, e.g. anti-collision devices
A61N 7/02
Ultrasound therapy: localised ultrasound hyperthermia
A61B
Medical diagnosis and surgery

Acoustic wave therapy apparatus

Life of this patent

Acoustic wave therapy apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims16

Description3,433 words

Description3,433 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent