US 12,064,388 B1
Flexible end effectors with an aperture
Robert Schmidt, Austin, TX (US); and Neal Piper, Huntington Beach, CA (US)
Assigned to InnerWave Health LLC, Austin, TX (US)
Filed by InnerWave Health LLC, Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/230,910.
Int. Cl. A61H 23/00 (2006.01); A61H 23/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61H 23/006 (2013.01) [A61H 23/0245 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1669 (2013.01); A61H 2201/169 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end effector assembly for therapeutics, comprising:
an end effector having an end effector proximal end and an end effector distal end along a longitudinal axis, the end effector further comprising:
an attachment portion at the end effector proximal end, the attachment portion comprising a first material and configured to couple the end effector assembly to a reciprocating therapeutic device; and
a toroidal contact portion extending from the attachment portion, the toroidal contact portion defining at least one aperture and comprising the first material,
wherein a ratio of an inner width of the toroidal contact portion to an outer width of the toroidal contact portion is at least 0.33, and
wherein when driven by the reciprocating therapeutic device, the end effector contracts and rebounds about the at least one aperture to transfer energy to a target treatment area in contact with the end effector;
a connector having a connector distal end coupled to the attachment portion of the end effector and a connector proximal end configured to be coupled to the reciprocating therapeutic device; and
an internal support structure comprising a second material distinct from the first material and having a greater hardness than the first material, the internal support structure received through the connector distal end and at least partially within the attachment portion of the end effector.