Method and system for generating mechanical pulses

Abstract

A method for generating a mechanical wave, including generating a high amplitude mechanical pulse; coupling the mechanical pulse in a proximal end of a transmission member; propagating the mechanical pulse into the transmission member from the proximal end and a distal end thereof; and transmitting the mechanical pulse at the distal end.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A concentrator for focusing mechanical waves emitted by mechanical wave sources, comprising:
 a body extending between a transmission face comprising a focal zone thereon and a reflection face opposite to the transmission face, the transmission face for receiving at least one mechanical wave source and transmitting at least one mechanical wave emitted by the at least one mechanical wave source within the body, the reflection face being unparallel to the transmission face so as to reflect the at least one mechanical wave emitted by the at least one mechanical wave source towards the focal zone of the transmission face in order to focus the at least one mechanical wave and propagate the at least one focused mechanical wave into a transmission member positioned at the focal zone, and the focusing of the at least one mechanical wave resulting in a greater amplitude mechanical wave having an amplitude being greater than an amplitude of the at least one mechanical wave emitted by the at least one mechanical wave source.   
     
     
         22 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the focal zone is located substantially at a center of the transmission face. 
     
     
         23 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the reflection face comprises at least one sloped section each facing a respective one of the at least one mechanical wave source when received on the transmission face and each oriented so as to reflect the at least one mechanical wave emitted by the at least one mechanical wave source towards the focal zone. 
     
     
         24 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the reflection face has a substantially parabolic shape adapted to reflect the at least one mechanical wave emitted by the at least one mechanical wave source towards the focal zone. 
     
     
         25 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the reflection face has a truncated parabolic shape, the reflection face having a source receiving section thereon for receiving a further mechanical source for emitting a further mechanical wave to be combined at the focal zone with the at least one mechanical wave emitted by the at least one mechanical wave source. 
     
     
         26 . The concentrator of  claim 25 , wherein the source receiving section substantially faces the focal zone of the transmission face. 
     
     
         27 . The concentrator of  claim 25 , wherein the source receiving section is substantially planar. 
     
     
         28 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the transmission face is substantially planar. 
     
     
         29 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one protrusion extending from the transmission face, the at least one protrusion defining at least one recess each for receiving a respective one of the at least one mechanical wave source therein. 
     
     
         30 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the transmission face comprises at least one rounded section each for receiving a respective one of the at least one mechanical wave source having a rounded emission end. 
     
     
         31 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein a section of the transmission face containing the focal zone is substantially planar for coupling the greater amplitude mechanical wave into a waveguide having a substantially planar end. 
     
     
         32 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein a section of the transmission face containing the focal zone is rounded for coupling the greater amplitude mechanical wave into a waveguide having a rounded end. 
     
     
         33 .- 128 . (canceled) 
     
     
         129 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the transmission face is adapted to receive at least two concentric sources of mechanical waves. 
     
     
         130 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one mechanical wave source comprises at least one of an annular mechanical wave source and a hexagonal annular mechanical wave source. 
     
     
         131 . (canceled) 
     
     
         132 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , wherein the transmission face comprises a section having one of a convex shape and a concave shape. 
     
     
         133 . The concentrator of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one recess is provided with a rounded shape. 
     
     
         134 . The concentrator of  claim 30 , wherein the rounded emission end is provided with one of a concave shape and a convex shape. 
     
     
         135 . The concentrator of  claim 21 , further comprising a transition element positionable between the transmission face and the transmission member.