US5207214A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Synthesizing array for three-dimensional sound field specification
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-03-19
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Granted: 1993-05-04
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Expires: 2011-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A non-invasive, synthesizing array of "N" reciprocal transducers is driven by "N" linearly independent inputs for three-dimensional sound field specification at "N" locations either within, or on, an isotropic or anisotropic acoustic/elastodynamic medium. Towards these ends, the impulse response, or Dyadic Green's Function Matrix, characteristic of the medium is determined, and the desired sound field response at "N" locations either within, or on, the surface of the medium is specified. This results in a system of "N" equations, which can be solved to obtain the "N" linearly independent inputs required to create the "N" desired, three-dimensional sound field responses. This permits precise focusing and spatial manipulation of sound intensity, as well as amplitude control within a specific volume or region of convergence within, or on, the medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony J. Romano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/225; A61B17/2256; A61B17/2258; A61N; A61N7/00; A61N7/02; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/34; G10K11/341; G10K11/348; A61N2007/0056; A61N2007/0065; A61N2007/0086; A61N2007/0095; A61N2007/027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/92; Y10S128/925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A sound wave generating apparatus for destroying or vaporizing undesired objects in a body comprising: sound wave generating means for generating sound waves, said sound wave generating means comprising a plurality of transducers; and drive means for independently driving each of said plurality of transducers according to a plurality of predetermined inputs to simultaneously effect N desired field point responses at N specified field points, where N>1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A sound wave generating apparatus for destroying or vaporizing undesired objects in a body comprising: sound wave generating means for generating sound waves, said sound wave generating means comprising a plurality of transducers; and drive means for independently driving each of said plurality of transducers according to a plurality of predetermined inputs to simultaneously effect N desired field point responses at N specified field points, where N>1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of transducers are operatively positioned such that the superposition of all of the generated sound waves at said N specified field points within a sound wave transmission medium produces said N desired sound field responses within, or on the surface of said medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to cause the obliteration of lumenal calculi.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to cause the obliteration of atherosclerotic plaque.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to cause the obliteration of vascular thrombi and/or emboli.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to cause the obliteration of small, soft tissue tumors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to cause the obliteration of hard tissue tumors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to cause the obliteration of cancerous tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to effect localized cauterization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 whereas said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to effect generalized, non-invasive percutaneous energy transfer into said body for diagnosis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated with characteristics sufficient to effect generalized, non-invasive percutaneous energy transfer into said body for therapy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
A sound wave generating apparatus for destroying or vaporizing undesired objects in a body comprising: sound wave generating means for generating sound waves, said sound wave generating means comprising a plurality of transducers, and drive means for independently driving each of said plurality of transducers according to a plurality of predetermined inputs; and p1 further comprising means for determining a predicted impulse response characteristic of a sound wave transmission medium, means for specifying a plurality of desired field point responses for a plurality of desired field points and means for determining said plurality of inputs based on said impulse response and said desired field point responses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
A sound wave generating apparatus for destroying or vaporizing undesired objects in a body comprising: sound wave generating means for generating sound waves, said sound wave generating means comprising a plurality of transducers, and drive means for independently driving each of said plurality of transducers according to a plurality of predetermined inputs; and p1 further comprising means for determining a predicted impulse response characteristic of a sound wave transmission medium, means for specifying a plurality of desired field point responses for a plurality of desired field points and means for determining said plurality of inputs based on said impulse response and said desired field point responses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said plurality of transducers comprises an array of N transducers, said desired field points comprise N field points and the means for determining the impulse response comprises means for determining the impulse response of said transmission medium from each of said N transducers to each of said N field points.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for determining the plurality of inputs comprises means for determining the solution to the following equation: ##EQU7##
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said drive means provides said plurality of independent inputs based on the solution to the equation set forth in claim 4 and said desired field point responses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said plurality of transducers, upon receipt of said plurality of N independent inputs, transmit a plurality of N sound waves such that the superposition of said N sound waves causes the N desired field point responses within or on the surface of said transmission medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said body is a human or animal body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for determining a predicted impulse response comprises imaging and measurement means for imaging and measuring the spatial distribution and material parameters characteristic of said sound wave transmission medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising processor means for processing data generated by said imaging and measurement means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said imaging and measurement means comprises material parameter determining means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said imaging and measurement means compromises at least CAT scanning means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said imaging and measurement means comprises at least MRI scanning means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for measuring the actual impulse response at said plurality of transducers, means for comparing said actual impulse response with said predicted impulse response and optimization and monitoring means for minimizing any errors between said actual and predicted impulse responses.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said optimization and monitoring means comprises adaptive control means and neural network means for optimizing and monitoring the actual impulse response.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of generating sound waves for destroying or vaporizing undesired objects in a body comprising the steps of: determining a predicted impulse response characteristic of a sound wave transmission medium; specifying a plurality of desired field point responses; determining a plurality of inputs to a plurality of transducers necessary to achieve said desired field point responses for a plurality of desired field points based on said predicted impulse response; and independently generating a plurality of sound waves according to said plurality of inputs.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of generating sound waves for destroying or vaporizing undesired objects in a body comprising the steps of: determining a predicted impulse response characteristic of a sound wave transmission medium; specifying a plurality of desired field point responses; determining a plurality of inputs to a plurality of transducers necessary to achieve said desired field point responses for a plurality of desired field points based on said predicted impulse response; and independently generating a plurality of sound waves according to said plurality of inputs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said step of determining said predicted impulse response comprises determining the impulse response of said transmission medium from each of a plurality of transducers to each of said desired field points.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of transmitting said plurality of sound waves such that the superposition of said sound waves causes the desired field point responses within or on the surface of said transmission medium.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the of determining a predicted impulse response comprises the steps of imaging and measuring the spatial distribution and material parameters characteristic of said sound wave transmission medium.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said steps of imaging and measuring comprises one or more of the following steps: performing a CAT scan; performing an MRI scan; or measuring the material parameters of said medium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of measuring the actual impulse response; comparing said actual impulse response with said predicted impulse response; and optimizing and monitoring the result of the step of comparing to minimize any errors between said actual and predicted impulse responses.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to lumenal calculi to obliterate said calculi.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to gallstones to obliterate said gallstones.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to kidney stones to obliterate said kidney stones.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to atherosclerotic plaque to obliterate said plaque.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to vascular thrombi to obliterate said vascular thrombi.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to deep vein thrombosis to obliterate said deep vein thrombosis.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to pulmonary emboli to obliterate said pulmonary emboli.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to small, soft tissue tumors to obliterate said small, soft tissue tumors.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to lumenal tumors to obliterate said lumenal tumors.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to colonic polyps to obliterate said colonic polyps.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to small endometrial fibroids to obliterate said small endometrial fibroids.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to hard tissue tumors to obliterate said hard tissue tumors.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to bone spurs to obliterate said bone spurs.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to osteophytes to obliterate said osteophytes.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to cancerous tissue to obliterate said cancerous tissue.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to affect local cauterization.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to affect non-invasive percutaneous energy transfer into said body, for diagnosis.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said step of determining the predicted impulse response is used to obtain a non-invasive characterization of tissues in said body.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to emboli to obliterate said emboli.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said sound waves are applied to effect non-invasive percutaneous energy transfer into said body for therapy.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-03 | 1996-11-02 | 1997-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-03 | 2000-11-02 | 2001-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-03 | 2004-11-02 | 2005-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |