US5076277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Calculus destroying apparatus using feedback from a low pressure echo for positioning
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1991-05-20
•
Granted: 1991-12-31
•
Expires: 2011-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A calculus destroying apparatus includes piezoelectric elements constituted by arranging a plurality of piezoelectric elements to have a predetermined shape, thereby constituting a shock wave generating source, a first driver for driving the piezoelectric elements by a high voltage pulse so that a shock wave for calculus destruction having a predetermined focal point pressure distribution is generated from the piezoelectric elements, a second driver for driving at least some of the piezolectric elements by a low voltage pulse so that a low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave is generalized from the piezoelectric elements, a receiver for receiving an echo of the low pressure ultrsonic wave from inside a patient's body via the piezoelectric elements, and a controller for activating the second driver prior to activation of the first driver, and activating the first driver when the intensity of the echo received by the receiver exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuyuki Iwama
- 👤 Satoshi Aida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/225; A61B17/2256
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A calculus destroying apparatus comprising: a vibration generating source having a plurality of piezoelectric elements; first driving means for driving said piezoelectric elements so that a shock wave for calculus destruction having a predetermined focal point pressure distribution is generated from said piezoelectric elements; second driving means for driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements so that a low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave is generated from said piezoelectric elements; receiving means for receiving an echo of the low pressure ultrasonic wave from inside a patient's body via said piezoelectric elements; and control means for activating said second driving means prior to activation of said first driving means, and activating said first driving means when an intensity of the echo received by said receiving means exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A calculus destroying apparatus comprising: a vibration generating source having a plurality of piezoelectric elements; first driving means for driving said piezoelectric elements so that a shock wave for calculus destruction having a predetermined focal point pressure distribution is generated from said piezoelectric elements; second driving means for driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements so that a low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave is generated from said piezoelectric elements; receiving means for receiving an echo of the low pressure ultrasonic wave from inside a patient's body via said piezoelectric elements; and control means for activating said second driving means prior to activation of said first driving means, and activating said first driving means when an intensity of the echo received by said receiving means exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first driving means includes means for driving said piezoelectric elements by a pulse having a comparatively high voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second driving means includes means for driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements by a pulse having a comparatively low voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric elements include a plurality of concentrically arranged piezoelectric elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second driving means includes means for driving only those piezoelectric elements on an inner peripheral side of said piezoelectric elements so as to generate the low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second driving means includes means for driving each of said piezoelectric elements with a predetermined time difference so as to generate the low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal pressure distribution point than those of the shock wave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
A calculus destroying apparatus comprising: a vibration generating source having a plurality of piezoelectric elements; driving means having a first driving mode for driving said piezoelectric elements so that a shock wave for calculus destruction is generated from said piezoelectric elements, and a second driving mode for driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements so that a low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave is generated from said piezoelectric elements; receiving means for receiving an echo of the low pressure ultrasonic wave from inside a patient's body via said piezoelectric elements; and control means for operating said driving means in the second driving mode prior to an operation in the first driving mode, and operating said driving means in the first driving mode when an intensity of the echo received by said receiving means exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
A calculus destroying apparatus comprising: a vibration generating source having a plurality of piezoelectric elements; driving means having a first driving mode for driving said piezoelectric elements so that a shock wave for calculus destruction is generated from said piezoelectric elements, and a second driving mode for driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements so that a low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave is generated from said piezoelectric elements; receiving means for receiving an echo of the low pressure ultrasonic wave from inside a patient's body via said piezoelectric elements; and control means for operating said driving means in the second driving mode prior to an operation in the first driving mode, and operating said driving means in the first driving mode when an intensity of the echo received by said receiving means exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said driving means includes means for driving said piezoelectric elements by a pulse having a comparative high voltage in the first driving mode, and driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements by a pulse having a comparatively low voltage in the second driving mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said driving means includes means for driving at least those piezoelectric elements on an inner peripheral side of said piezoelectric elements, in the second driving mode, so as to generate the low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said driving means includes means for driving each of said piezoelectric elements with a predetermined time difference in the second driving mode so as to generate the low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
185 words
A calculus destroying apparatus comprising: imaging ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means for transmitting/receiving an imaging ultrasonic wave; image processing means for obtaining an ultrasonic image in accordance with an ultrasonic echo obtained by said imaging ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means; a vibration generating source having said imaging ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means therein, constituted by a plurality of piezoelectric elements; first driving means for driving said piezoelectric elements so that a shock wave for calculus destruction having a predetermined focal point pressure distribution is generated from said piezoelectric elements; second driving means for driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements so that a low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave is generated from said piezoelectric elements; receiving means for receiving an echo of the low pressure ultrasonic wave from inside a patient's body via said piezoelectric elements; and control means for activating said second driving means prior to activation of said first driving means, and activating said first driving means when an intensity of the echo received by said receiving means exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
185 words
A calculus destroying apparatus comprising: imaging ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means for transmitting/receiving an imaging ultrasonic wave; image processing means for obtaining an ultrasonic image in accordance with an ultrasonic echo obtained by said imaging ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means; a vibration generating source having said imaging ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means therein, constituted by a plurality of piezoelectric elements; first driving means for driving said piezoelectric elements so that a shock wave for calculus destruction having a predetermined focal point pressure distribution is generated from said piezoelectric elements; second driving means for driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements so that a low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave is generated from said piezoelectric elements; receiving means for receiving an echo of the low pressure ultrasonic wave from inside a patient's body via said piezoelectric elements; and control means for activating said second driving means prior to activation of said first driving means, and activating said first driving means when an intensity of the echo received by said receiving means exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first driving means includes means for driving said piezoelectric elements by a pulse having a comparatively high voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second driving means includes means for driving at least some of said piezoelectric elements by a pulse having a comparatively low voltage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said piezoelectric elements include a plurality of concentrically arranged piezoelectric elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second driving means includes means for driving only those piezoelectric elements on an inner peripheral side of said piezoelectric elements so as to generate the low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second driving means includes means for driving each of said piezoelectric elements with a predetermined time difference so as to generate the low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal pressure distribution point than those of the shock wave.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE3119295A1
Cited
EP0102179A1
Cited
US4858597A
Cited
US4537074A
Cited
JPS60145131A
Cited
EP0225104A1
Cited
US4771787A
Cited
US4803995A
Cited
US4888746A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |