US 11,865,371 B2
Apparatus for generating therapeutic shockwaves and applications of same
Christopher C. Capelli, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to The Board of Regents of the University of Texas Syster, Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Christopher C. Capelli, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 12, 2012, as Appl. No. 13/547,995.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/508,343, filed on Jul. 15, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2013/0018287 A1, Jan. 17, 2013
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61N 7/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 7/00 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00769 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0034 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0056 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
providing a plurality of sinusoidal acoustic waves having at least one frequency between 1 MHz and 1,000 MHz;
propagating at least a portion of the sinusoidal acoustic waves through a shockwave medium disposed in and contained by a shockwave housing, the shockwave medium configured to exhibit nonlinear properties in the presence of the propagated sinusoidal acoustic waves to generate a plurality of unfocused shock waves that exit a distal end of the shockwave housing; and
delivering at least a portion of said plurality of unfocused shock waves to at least one cellular structure comprising at least one region of heterogeneity; and
rupturing the at least one cellular structure by continuing to deliver said plurality of unfocused shock waves;
wherein the plurality of unfocused shock waves are generated in the shockwave medium.