Apparatus and method for treating body tissues with electricity or medicaments

Abstract

A therapeutic device and therapeutic method for delivering electrical energy or a medicament to a body tissue or organ utilizing ultrasonic vibration to cause a device implanted in the body tissue or organ to be treated to discharge an electrical current or medicament to the target area.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating body tissue, comprising the steps of: 
 a) preparing a device capable of generating electrical current at a therapeutic voltage and amperage in response to ultrasonic vibrations;    b) disposing the device in the vicinity of the tissue to be treated; and    c) subjecting the device to ultrasonic vibrations in an amount and for a period of time sufficient for the device to generate electrical current at a therapeutic voltage and amperage.    
     
     
         2 . A device for treating body tissue, comprising: 
 a) a device capable of generating electrical current at a therapeutic voltage and amperage in response to ultrasonic vibrations; and    b) sensor means, the sensor means adapted to receive preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue, the sensor means adapted to communicate with and selectively energize a means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the device in response to the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue.    
     
     
         3 . A method of treating body tissue, comprising the steps of: 
 a) preparing a device capable of generating electrical current at a therapeutic voltage and amperage in response to ultrasonic vibrations; the device further provided with sensor means, the sensor means adapted to receive preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue, the sensor means adapted to communicate with and selectively energize a means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the device in response to the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue;    b) disposing the device in the vicinity of the tissue to be treated; and    c) sensing with the sensor means the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue;    d) energizing the means for selectively generating ultrasonic vibrations in response to sensing the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue; and    e) subjecting the device to ultrasonic vibrations in an amount and for a period of time sufficient for the device to generate electrical currents at a therapeutic voltage and amperage.    
     
     
         4 . A device for treating body tissue, comprising: 
 a) a housing provided with a medicament storage compartment;    b) an oscillating member attached to the housing and communicating with the medicament storage compartment, the oscillating member adapted to oscillate in response to ultrasonic stimulation;    c) a medicament port disposed on the housing and in fluid communication with the medicament storage compartment, the medicament port adapted to permit a medicament to be introduced into and contained in the medicament storage compartment and further adapted to selectively release the medicament from the medicament storage compartment in response to oscillations of oscillating member.    
     
     
         5 . A method of treating body tissue, comprising the steps of: 
 a) preparing a device comprising: 
 a housing provided with a medicament storage compartment;  
 an oscillating member attached to the housing and communicating with the medicament storage compartment, the oscillating member adapted to oscillate in response to ultrasonic stimulation; and a medicament port disposed on the housing and in fluid communication with the medicament storage compartment, the medicament port adapted to permit a medicament to be introduced into and contained in the compartment and further adapted to selectively release the medicament from the medicament storage compartment in response to oscillations of the oscillating member;  
   b) introducing a medicament through the medicament port and into the medicament storage compartment;    c) disposing the device in the vicinity of the tissue to be treated; and    d) subjecting the device to ultrasonic vibrations in an amount and for a period of time sufficient for the oscillating member to oscillate in an amount and for a period of time to cause the desired quantity of medicament to be discharged from the medicament storage compartment through the medicament port to the tissue to be treated.    
     
     
         6 . A device for treating body tissue, comprising: 
 a) a housing provided with a medicament storage compartment;    b) an oscillating member attached to the housing and communicating with the medicament storage compartment, the oscillating member adapted to oscillate in response to ultrasonic stimulation;    c) a medicament port disposed on the housing and in fluid communication with the medicament storage compartment, the medicament port adapted to permit a medicament to be introduced into and contained in the compartment and further adapted to selectively release the medicament from the medicament storage compartment in response to oscillations of the oscillating member; and    d) sensor means, the sensor means adapted to receive preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue, the sensor means adapted to communicate with and selectively energize a means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the oscillating member in response to the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue.    
     
     
         7 . A method of treating body tissue, comprising the steps of preparing a device comprising: 
 a) a housing provided with a medicament storage compartment; an oscillating member attached to the housing and communicating with the medicament storage compartment, the oscillating member adapted to oscillate in response to ultrasonic stimulation; a medicament port disposed on the housing and in fluid communication with the medicament storage compartment, the medicament port adapted to permit a medicament to be introduced into and contained in the compartment and further adapted to selectively release the medicament from the medicament storage compartment in response to oscillations of the oscillating member; and sensor means disposed on the device, the sensor means adapted to receive preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue, the sensor means adapted to communicate with and selectively energize a means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the oscillating member in response to the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue;    b) introducing a medicament through the medicament port and into the medicament storage compartment;    c) disposing the device in the vicinity of the tissue to be treated; and    d) sensing with the sensor means the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue; and    e) subjecting the oscillating member to ultrasonic vibrations in an amount and for a period of time sufficient for the oscillating member to oscillate in an amount and for a period of time to cause the desired quantity medicament to be discharged from the medicament storage compartment through the medicament port to the tissue to be treated.    
     
     
         8 . The device of claims  2  or  6  wherein the sensor means is disposed on the apparatus.  
     
     
         9 . The method of claims  3  or  7  wherein the sensor means is disposed on the apparatus.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a means for calculating the duration of the ultrasonic frequency as a function of the type and degree of physiological change sensed by the sensor, the means for calculating communicating with the sensor and communicating with the means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations.  
     
     
         11 . A device for treating body tissue, comprising: 
 a) a device capable of generating electrical current at a therapeutic voltage and amperage in response to ultrasonic vibrations; and    b) means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the device, the means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations disposed on the device; and    c) sensor means, the sensor means adapted to receive preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue, the sensor means adapted to communicate with and selectively energize the means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the device in response to the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue.    
     
     
         12 . A device for treating body tissue, comprising: 
 a) a housing provided with a medicament storage compartment;    b) an oscillating member attached to the housing and communicating with the medicament storage compartment, the oscillating member adapted to oscillate in response to ultrasonic stimulation;    c) a medicament port disposed on the housing and in fluid communication with the medicament storage compartment, the medicament port adapted to permit a medicament to be introduced into and contained in the compartment and further adapted to selectively release the medicament from the medicament storage compartment in response to oscillations of the oscillating member; and    d) means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the oscillating member, the means for generating and transmitting the ultrasonic vibrations disposed on the housing; and    e) sensor means, the sensor means adapted to receive preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue, the sensor means adapted to communicate with and selectively energize the means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the oscillating member in response to the preselected stimuli generated by the body tissue.    
     
     
         13 . A device for treating body tissue, comprising a housing provided with one or more medicament storage compartment bubbles, the bubbles adapted to rupture in response to ultrasonic stimulation.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more medicament ports disposed on the housing and in fluid communication with said one or more medicament storage bubbles, said one or more medicament ports adapted to permit a medicament to be introduced into and contained in the medicament storage bubbles.