DE202007017254U1 - Pressure or shock wave generator with ignition device - Google Patents

Abstract

contraption for generating pressure or shock waves, comprising two electrodes a spark discharge gap, wherein the device with an aqueous Medium filled characterized in that the device further comprises an ignition device for inflammation a gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, which from the aqueous Medium in the generation of pressure or shock waves arises, has.

Description

The The invention relates to a pressure or shock wave generator.

shock waves find a field of application in numerous medical fields.

Of the best known area is the therapeutic and cosmetic application in the treatment of, for example, stone diseases (e.g., urolithasis, Cholelithiasis) and scar treatment in human and veterinary medicine.

newer Fields of application concern the dental treatment, the treatment of Osteoarthritis, the removal of calcium deposits (e.g., Tendinosis calcarea), the treatment of chronic tennis or golfer elbow (so-called. Epicondylopathia radialis or ulnaris), chronic shoulder tendon complaints (so-called tendinosis of the rotator cuff) and chronic Achilles tendon irritation (so-called. Achillodynia).

Farther become shock waves also for therapy in osteoporosis, periodontosis, non-healing bone fractures (so-called. Pseudarthrosis), bone necroses and similar diseases. newer Studies are also investigating use in stem cell therapies.

shock waves can furthermore also be used to reduce mechanical stress, e.g. in the form of shear forces, to exercise on cells, wherein their apoptosis is initiated. This happens, for example by initiation of the "death receptor pathway" and / or cytochrome c-way and / or a caspase cascade.

Under Apoptosis is the initiation of a genetically controlled process Program, which is the "tent suicide" of individual cells leads in the tissue association. At the same time, the affected cells and their organelles shrink and disintegrate into fragments that so-called apoptotic bodies. These will follow phagocytosed by macrophages and / or neighboring cells. Apoptosis thus represents a non-necrotic cell death without inflammatory response represents.

Therefore is the use of shockwaves in all cases advantageous in which it deals with the treatment of diseases decreased apoptosis rate, e.g. Tumor treatments or viral diseases.

Farther can shock waves particularly advantageous for the treatment of necrotic changes Areas and structures in muscle tissue, especially in myocardial tissue, to stimulate cartilage repair in arthritic joint diseases, for the initiation of differentiation of embryonic or adult Stem cells in vivo and in vitro according to the surrounding cell structure, for the treatment of tissue weakness, especially cellulite and fat cell depletion, as well as for activation of growth factors, in particular TGF- [beta].

shock waves can also to prevent edema formation and / or expansion as well as edema removal, for the treatment of ischemia, Rheumatism, joint diseases, jawbone (paradontitis), cardiological Diseases and heart attacks, paresis (paralysis), neuritis, Paraplegia, Arthrosis, arthritis, for the prevention of scarring, for treatment of scarring or nerve scarring, for the treatment of Achillobursitis and other bone necroses.

A further use relates to the treatment of spinal cord and nerve injuries, for example spinal cord injuries with concomitant edema.

shock waves are also used to treat scarred tendon and ligament tissue as well as badly healing open wounds.

Such badly healing open wounds and ulcers are called ulcers or too Called ulceration. They set up a surface destruction by tissue decay the skin and / or the mucous membrane. Depending on which tissue components affected are superficial lesions exfoliation (only epidermis affected) or excoriation (upper and dermis affected).

To by shock waves countable treatable open wounds in particular ulcus cruris, ulcus hypertonicum, ulcus varicosum or ulcus terebrans due to an improved thereby caused Healing process.

Farther are shockwaves suitable for the stimulation of cell proliferation and differentiation of stem cells.

to Generation of shockwaves There are essentially three principles available, namely the electro-hydraulic, the piezoelectric and the electromagnetic principle.

In an electrohydraulic shock wave generator, a spark discharge between two electrode tips in a liquid medium is generated in the focus of a reflector. Once the expansion rate of the plasma bubble generated by the spark discharge below the Schallge speed has dropped, a shock wave separates from the surface of the plasma bubble, spreading as a primary, divergent shock wave. In this case, a substantial part of the divergent wave is reflected by the reflector.

Of the Reflector can be executed parabolic or elliptical.

is the reflector is elliptical, Thus, through reflection, the reflected part of the divergent shockwave in a convergent shockwave transformed into a second focus together and then apart running. If the position of the second focus is to be changed, an acoustic Lens can be used.

is the reflector is parabolic, Thus, through reflection, the reflected part of the divergent shockwave in a plane shock wave transformed, which runs parallel from the reflector. To another focus in the field of application, an acoustic lens is needed which the shockwave focused.

typical Shockwave generator have a base unit on, on which a treatment head can be connected. The treatment head has an integrated reflector with a shock wave source and a coupling membrane over which the shockwaves in a body be launched. Furthermore, the treatment head has a Connection cable for connection to the base unit. The treatment head can be made of different materials and needs depending on the type of shock source meet certain protection requirements. For the end user, the Treatment head is a unit.

typically, are the treatment heads on the devices changeable, to attach to a different treatment heads to be able to or but the treatment head for To be able to remove maintenance or refurbishment work.

Of the Reflector integrated in the treatment head is at least partially with a liquid filled. The liquid usually indicates a characteristic impedance for the shockwaves on, the the characteristic impedance of the body to be treated in approximately corresponds. As a result, a light coupling of the shock waves into the target object and losses in the coupling are minimized. Because human and animal bodies mostly consist of water, there is usually also the liquid in the reflector predominantly of water.

Of the Reflector is usually made of stainless steel materials or brass alloys to a Corrosion of the reflector surface to minimize and at the same time a dense material as possible disposal at the same time shockwaves are good reflected.

To the fill of the reflector with liquid or for emptying the liquid For example, the treatment head may include valves.

The impact source is typically in a focus (primary focus) or in relative proximity to a focus arranged the reflector.

The impact source is through an appropriate connection with the base unit over the Reflector receptacle connected. The base unit supplies the treatment head with the necessary energy. Depending on the device, the number is also determined by the base unit the shocks counted.

at an electrohydraulic shock wave generator has the shock source a spark discharge path through two opposing ones pointed electrodes is formed on. If at the electrodes a Tension, usually in the order of magnitude from about 10 kV to about 30 kV, and the distance is applied the electrode tips is not too large, it comes between the Electrodes for an electrical breakdown in the form of a spark discharge. It hangs the latency, ie the time between the application of the voltage and the electrical breakdown, inter alia, the distance of the electrode tips from. By wear of the electrode tips during the spark discharge increases this distance over time. If the distance becomes too large, then takes place the breakthrough increasingly unreliable, until finally he does not more is possible is.

As already mentioned was, the liquid consists in the reflector mostly for the most part Part of water, to a human or to be treated animal body to achieve comparable characteristic impedance for the shock waves. Both Spark discharges between the electrode tips arise from a Part of the water in the liquid by electrolysis and cavitation effects a gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. This known under the name of oxyhydrogen gas mixture is in a big one Mixing ratio range explosive and reacts upon contact with an open flame such as e.g. a spark or embers. The gas mixture can from the completed reflector do not escape and collect in a gas bubble.

The Gas bubble has a negative effect on the homogeneous spread the shockwaves and thus on the effectiveness of the shockwave generator.

For this reason, the liquid in the Reflector of an electro-hydraulic shock wave generator according to the prior art usually a so-called catalyst material, which should reduce the resulting bubbles in the spark discharges. For example, the catalyst material may comprise palladium oxide hydrate which can bind the resulting hydrogen. Furthermore, it is also possible for substances to be added to the liquid in the reflector which absorb the hydrogen and oxygen formed during the spark discharges or bring them into reaction with one another. In addition to or in addition to the palladium oxide hydrate already mentioned, strong oxidizing and / or reducing agents can be used for this purpose, for example metal crystallites and / or water catalysts. Preferably, the substances used for this purpose are water-soluble and / or are present as fine powder.

There the catalyst materials used predominantly on precious metals based, these are extremely expensive. Furthermore, the admixing said substances an additional step and complicates the maintenance of an electro-hydraulic shockwave generator.

Of the The present invention is therefore based on the object, the problem of the resulting during the spark discharges gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen at a lower cost compared to the prior art and easier to handle.

These Task is solved by a device according to the invention for the production of printing or Shock waves having the two electrodes of a spark discharge gap and with an aqueous one Medium filled wherein the device further comprises an ignition device for igniting a gas mixture from hydrogen and oxygen coming from the aqueous medium during production the pressure or shock waves arises, has.

A inventive device for generating pressure or shock waves preferably has a basic device and a treatment head. The treatment head is connected to the base unit via Connection cable is connected and powered by the base unit provided. The treatment head preferably has a reflector, in arranged the two electrodes of the spark discharge gap are on.

Of the Reflector is parabolic or elliptical and preferably with a aqueous medium filled. At his opening Side of the reflector is closed with a coupling membrane.

at The spark discharges between the electrode tips arise a part of the water in the aqueous Medium by electrolysis and cavitation effects a gas mixture Hydrogen and oxygen. By igniting the gas mixture can be convert this back into water in an exothermic reaction or convert to water-soluble hydrogen peroxide.

to inflammation of the gas mixture has a device according to the invention for the production of Pressure or shock waves an ignition device.

In an embodiment The invention comprises the ignition device a pair of electrodes for inflammation of the gas mixture by a spark between the electrodes. To generate the spark, a voltage is applied to the electrodes. For this purpose, a known from the prior art voltage source be used. The voltage source is preferably located in the base unit and is with the igniter over a Cable connected.

The Size of the the voltage applied to the electrode pair is preferably in one Range between 1000 V and 30,000 V.

Of the Distance between the electrodes of the electrode pair is preferably in a range between 0.05 mm and 5 mm.

In a further preferred embodiment The invention comprises the ignition device a piezoelectric igniter on. A piezoelectric igniter generates a voltage of up to 15000 V by using a plunger with greater Force is beaten on a piezocrystal. By the force comes it in the piezoelectric crystal to deformations in the crystal lattice, whereby the size Tension arises. This voltage can be tight by means of two on the crystal tapped adjacent electrodes are tapped.

In a further preferred embodiment The invention comprises the ignition device a lightning source for inflammation of the gas mixture by a short and high intensity flash of light on. The flash source is preferably outside the treatment head appropriate. The flashes of light pass through a transparent spot of the treatment head in this one. As lightning source can appropriate from used in the prior art lightning sources.

In a further embodiment The invention comprises the ignition device a heat source for inflammation of the gas mixture by heat on.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the ignition device has a Control unit for controlling the ignitions.

The Control unit is preferably arranged in the base unit and via a Cable with the igniter connected. By means of the control unit, the firing order and length of single ignitions controlled.

Claims (8)

A device for generating pressure or shock waves, comprising two electrodes of a spark discharge gap, wherein the device is filled with an aqueous medium, characterized in that the device further comprises an ignition device for igniting a gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, which from the aqueous medium in the Generation of pressure or shock waves arises, has. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ignition device a pair of electrodes for inflammation of the gas mixture by a spark. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the distance of the electrodes of the electrode pair between 0.05 mm and 5 mm. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the size of one voltage applied to the pair of electrodes between 1000 V and 30,000 V is. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ignition device a piezoelectric igniter having. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ignition device a lightning source for inflammation of the gas mixture by a flash of light. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ignition device a heat source for inflammation of the gas mixture by heat having. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ignition device a control unit for controlling the ignitions.