Low frequency vibration assisted blood perfusion emergency system

Abstract

A non-invasive vibrator comprising a vibration source operable to generate vibration at a frequency in the range of 1-1000 Hz, and a phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer operatively connected to said vibration source, such as to enable targeting of vibration via an image generated on an ultrasonic display. The preferred vibrator is operable at a frequency greater than 20 Hz and an amplitude greater than 1 mm, such as to provide an effective, deeply penetrative transthoracic tool in remediation of blood flow disturbances within the thoracic cavity (such as acute myocardial infarction). In a variation, means for emitting a therapeutic low frequency ultrasonic waveform in concert with vibration in the range of 1-1000 Hz (wherein both waveforms are simultaneously directed by high frequency ultrasonic imaging) is also provided.

1 - 82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . A non-invasive vibration device adapted for delivering a series of percussions to an external human body surface comprising,
 a) a motor which generates a series of oscillations at a frequency in the range of 1-1000 cycles per second, and   b) an ultrasound imaging transducer operatively connected to an oscillating end of said motor,   whereby said ultrasound imaging transducer transmits said series of oscillations generated from said motor, and   whereby said ultrasound imaging transducer comprises a vibratory contact sized, configured and disposed relative to said vibration device to enable operative seating and operator controlled maneuverability within a rib-space of a human patient receiving said series of oscillations from said vibration device, such as to enable attainment of an effective transthoracic acoustic penetration window for targeting said series of oscillations via a real time multidimensional image acquired by said ultrasound imaging transducer and generated on an ultrasonic display.   
     
     
         84 . The vibration device of  claim 83 , wherein
 a) said vibration device enables hand controlled maneuvering and engagement against a body surface to which said vibration device is applied,   b) said motor, once activated, linearly oscillates said ultrasound imaging transducer repeatedly at a stroke length of greater than 1 mm, and wherein   c) said motor is operable under an engagement force of greater than 10 newtons.   
     
     
         85 . The vibration device of  claim 84 , wherein said vibratory contact is operatively sized and contoured to match the configuration of a human rib space. 
     
     
         86 . The vibration device of  claim 84 , wherein said ultrasound imaging transducer has an operating frequency in the 1-7 MHz range. 
     
     
         87 . The vibration device of  claim 83 , wherein said vibration device enables selective delivery of said series of percussions during the diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle. 
     
     
         88 . The vibration device of  claim 83 , wherein said vibration device comprises a plurality of vibratory contact-nodes spaced to enable seating to opposite sides of a bony structure upon the thorax of an individual receiving vibration from said vibration device, wherein at least one of said contact nodes comprises said ultrasonic imaging transducer. 
     
     
         89 . The vibration device of  claim 83 , further comprising means for emitting a therapeutic ultrasonic waveform in concert with said series of oscillations, whereby said therapeutic ultrasonic waveform comprises a lower frequency waveform that that which is emitted from said ultrasound imaging transducer. 
     
     
         90 . The vibration device of  claim 86 , wherein said motor enables successional reciprocating motion of said ultrasonic imaging transducer while under an engagement load of greater than 10 newtons at a frequency greater than 20 cycles per second. 
     
     
         91 . The vibration device of  claim 84 , wherein said ultrasound imaging transducer comprises a phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer. 
     
     
         92 . A non-invasive percussion device adapted for delivering vibration to an external body surface comprising,
 a) a motor operable to generate vibration at a frequency in the range of 1-1000 Hz and a displacement amplitude in the range of 0.1-15 mm, and   b) a phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer operatively linked to an oscillating component of said motor,   
       whereby said phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer transmits said vibration generated from said motor, and 
       whereby said phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer comprises a percussive contact sized, configured and disposed relative to said percussion device to enable operative seating and operator controlled maneuverability within a rib-space of a human patient receiving said vibration from said percussion device, such as to enable attainment of an effective transthoracic acoustic penetration window for targeting said vibration via a real time multidimensional image acquired by said phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer and generated on an ultrasonic display. 
     
     
         93 . The percussion device of  claim 92  wherein said percussion device, once activated to oscillate, oscillates said phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer repeatedly at a displacement amplitude of greater than 1 mm. 
     
     
         94 . The percussion device of  claim 92  wherein said motor is disposed within a housing sized and configured to enable hand controlled maneuvering and engagement of said percussion device, wherein said phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer is projected from said housing, such as to enable contact of said phased array imaging transducer against a body surface to which said percussion device is applied. 
     
     
         95 . The percussion device of  claim 94 , wherein said motor, once activated to oscillate, generates a series of oscillations and thereby repeatedly oscillates said phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer at a frequency greater than 20 cycles per second 
     
     
         96 . The percussion device of  claim 95 , wherein said percussion device has at least one percussive contact interface sized such that the majority of said contact interface enables seating between two opposing ribs of a human rib space. 
     
     
         97 . The percussion device of  claim 96 , wherein said percussion device has at least one percussive attachment interface operatively configured to match the contour and size of a human rib space. 
     
     
         98 . The percussion device of  claim 95 , wherein said phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer has an operating frequency in the 1-7 MHz range. 
     
     
         99 . A method using the vibration device as defined in claim  1  for treatment of a state of low blood perfusion within an individual, comprising the steps of:
 a) locating an application site for said vibration device upon a non-invasive external body surface of said individual via use of an image acquired by said ultrasonic imaging transducer of said vibration device, and   b) applying a series of oscillations at a frequency in the range of 1-1000 Hz and a displacement amplitude in the range of 0.1-15 mm via transmission through said ultrasonic imaging transducer upon said application site to remediate said state of low blood perfusion,   
       whereby said image represents a useful target for said series of oscillations. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein said ultrasonic imaging transducer comprises a phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein said state of low blood perfusion comprises an acute thrombotic arterial obstruction. 
     
     
         102 . A method for using non-invasively delivered percussion in treatment of a blood flow disorder in a patient, comprising the steps of:
 a) obtaining an ultrasonic image by placing an ultrasonic imaging transducer in contact with a non-invasive application site of said patient, said image representing a target for said percussion, and   b) applying percussion at a frequency in the range of 1-1000 Hz and a displacement amplitude in the range of 0.1-15 mm upon said application site in order to remediate said blood flow disorder.   
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said blood flow disorder comprises at least one of a blood flow disorder of the heart and a blood flow disorder of the lung. 
     
     
         104 . A hand held non invasive vibrator adapted for enabling imaging guided vibration to a space between the ribs of a patient, comprising
 a) a motor operable at engagement forces greater than 10 newtons, which is administrable to generate vibration at a frequency of greater than 20 Hz and less than 1000 Hz, said motor disposed within a housing adapted to enable hand held positional control and engagement of said vibrator, and   b) an ultrasonic imaging transducer mechanically linked to an active oscillating end of said motor and projected from said housing, said ultrasonic imaging transducer comprising a vibratory patient contact with a contact surface sized, shaped, configured, and disposed relative to said vibrator to enable operative seating and operator controlled maneuverability within a rib space of a human patient receiving vibration from said vibrator,   whereby, said motor linearly oscillates said vibratory patient contact towards said space between the ribs of said patient to which said vibrator is applied,   such as to enable hand controlled engagement and targeting of said vibration through a human rib-space via an ultrasonic image acquired by said ultrasonic imaging transducer and generated on an ultrasonic display.   
     
     
         105 . The vibrator of  claim 104 , wherein said motor is administrable to generate vibration at a displacement amplitude of at least 1 mm. 
     
     
         106 . The vibrator of  claim 105 , wherein said ultrasonic imaging transducer has an operating frequency in the 1-7 MHz range. 
     
     
         107 . The vibrator of  claim 106 , wherein said ultrasonic imaging transducer comprises a phased array ultrasonic imaging transducer.