Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Ultrasonic
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-22
2001-01-30
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Ultrasonic
C601S004000, C381S071100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179792
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an acoustic wave therapy apparatus of the type employing an acoustic wave source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Acoustic wave therapy apparatuses of the above type are utilized for a large variety of medical purposes. When shock waves are to be generated as acoustic waves, such apparatuses are employed, for example, for disintegrating calculi (lithotripsy) or for alleviating pain in joint-proximate soft tissue regions (pain therapy).
Given employment of such an acoustic wave therapy apparatus, the acoustic wave source produces substantial noise when it generates shock waves, that is considered disturbing by the medical personnel as well as by the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an acoustic wave therapy apparatus of the type initially described wherein irritation due to the air-borne sound caused by the operation of the acoustic wave source are at least reduced.
This object is inventively achieved in an acoustic wave therapy apparatus having an acoustic wave source, particularly a shock wave source, and a sound transmitter that emits a separate acoustic signal that produces a cancellation of the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source during operation of the acoustic wave therapy apparatus.
In addition to the air-borne sound of the acoustic wave source, thus, the acoustic wave therapy apparatus in the case of the invention additionally emits an acoustic signal that interferes with the air-borne sound of the acoustic wave source in such a way that at least partial canceling of perceptible audio sensation ensues. A resultant signal thus arises whose acoustic pressure is lower than that of the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source.
According to a first version of the invention, the acoustic signal emitted in addition to the air-borne sound of the acoustic wave source is acquired directly from the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source. To this end, a sound sensor is provided for picking up the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source, the output signal of this sound sensor being supplied via a signal processing circuit to an acoustic transmitter. In order to assure that the desired acoustic canceling occurs, the signal processing circuit can contain a phase shifter that gives the output signal of the acoustic sensor a phase shift such that the acoustic signal emitted by the acoustic transmitter is shifted in phase, preferably by 180°, relative to the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source. Under certain circumstances, however, a phase shifter need not be used, namely when a phase shift already occurs in the signal path from the acoustic wave source via the acoustic sensor and the acoustic transmitter, resulting in a “natural” phase shift of the acoustic signal relative to the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source that effects at least a partial acoustic canceling. Moreover, the signal processing circuit can include a filter with a filter characteristic selected such that only spectral components of the output signal of the acoustic sensor that are found to be particularly disturbing by human hearing proceed to the acoustic transmitter. It is assured in this way that an acoustic signal having an unnecessarily high acoustic power need not be emitted, but only that acoustic power that is required in order to achieve the desired effect.
In a further version of the invention the acoustic signal is not directly acquired from the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source; rather, data corresponding to the acoustic signal are stored. In this case, the acoustic wave therapy apparatus has a memory and a digital-to-analog converter, whereby data are stored in the memory that correspond to (characterize) an acoustic signal which, given emission via the acoustic transmitter, causes a canceling of the air-borne sound emanating from the acoustic wave source. The data stored in the memory are supplied, during operation of the acoustic wave therapy apparatus, to the digital-to-analog converter when an acoustic wave is triggered and the analog output signal of the digital-to-analog converter is supplied to the acoustic transmitter. The data acquired in the memory can, for example, be acquired by registering the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source with an acoustic sensor, and the output signal of the acoustic sensor is then digitized. The corresponding digital data can optionally be directly stored or can be modified in a suitable way before storage on the basis of digital signal processing, for example filtering and/or phase shifting.
Regardless of whether a complete or only a partial canceling of the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source ensues, in an embodiment of the invention provides means are provided that, in addition to reproducing the acoustic signal serving the purpose of canceling the air-borne sound caused by the acoustic wave source, additionally allow the emission of a non-utilitarian audio signal with the acoustic transmitter (i.e., an acoustic signal performing a calming function). There is then the possibility, for example, of playing back music that is derived from an audio signal source such as a CD player.
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Lateef Marvin M.
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Shaw Shawna J.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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