초록

A miniature device for generating shock waves using the energy of combustion of a nanoenergetic material and directing the shock waves into biological tissues is described.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A miniature device for creating and directing at least one shock wave into biological targets, wherein the at least one shock wave has a peak pressure of up to 200 MPa and a duration of up to 100 microseconds, the device comprising: a. an amount of nanoenergetic material; and,b. a transmissive ba

1. A miniature device for creating and directing at least one shock wave into biological targets, wherein the at least one shock wave has a peak pressure of up to 200 MPa and a duration of up to 100 microseconds, the device comprising: a. an amount of nanoenergetic material; and,b. a transmissive barrier, whereby the barrier propagates the at least one shock wave and prevents byproducts of combustion of the nanoenergetic material from contacting the biological targets. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the nanoenergetic material comprises a nanostructured mixture comprising a plurality of fuel nanoparticles selected from the group comprising aluminum, boron, beryllium, hafnium, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, neodymium, silicon, tantalum, thorium, titanium, yttrium, zirconium, and combinations thereof, and a plurality of oxidizer nanoparticles selected from the group comprising copper oxide, silver oxide, bismuth oxide, cobalt oxide, chromium oxide, iron oxide, mercuric oxide, iodine oxide, manganese oxide, molybdenum oxide, niobium oxide, nickel oxide, lead oxide, palladium oxide, silicone oxide, tin oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium dioxide, uranium oxide, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide, and combinations thereof. 3. The nanoenergetic material of claim 2, wherein the weight ratio of fuel to oxidizer is about 1.4 to about 1.8. 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the transmissive barrier comprises a material with a density ranging between about 0.8 and about 1.2 g/cm3. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmissive barrier is selected from the group consisting of a flexible membrane, a solid member, a gel, a liquid, and combinations thereof. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the gel is selected from the group consisting of a Type A gelatin, Type B gelatin, a hydrogel, and combinations thereof, and wherein the gel has a strength ranging between about 50 and about 350 on a Bloom scale. 7. The device of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the flexible membrane ranges between about 0.01 mm and about 5 mm. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the miniature device further comprises a substrate, an igniter, and a tubular member. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the substrate comprises a rigid planar sheet comprising opposed surfaces, and wherein the maximum dimension of the substrate ranges between about 10 mm and about 50 mm and the thickness of the substrate is less than about 10 mm. 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the tubular member forms a lumen, wherein the lumen is filled with the transmissive barrier, and wherein the transmissive barrier is a gel. 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the gel is selected from the group consisting of Type A gelatin, Type B gelatin, hydrogel, and combinations thereof, and wherein the gel has a density ranging between about 0.8 and about 1.2 g/cm3 and a strength ranging between about 50 and about 350 on a Bloom scale. 12. The device of claim 8, wherein the tubular member has a diameter ranging between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, and a length ranging between about 1 mm and about 100 mm. 13. The device of claim 8, wherein one surface of the substrate further contains at least one well, whereby the at least one well holds the amount of nanoenergetic material. 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the miniature device further comprises an additional transmissive barrier and wherein the additional transmissive barrieris a flexible membrane with a density ranging between about 0.8 and about 1.2 g/cm3 and a thickness ranging between about 0.01 mm and about 5 mm. 15. A miniature device for creating and directing at least one shock wave into biological targets, wherein the at least one shock wave has a peak pressure of up to 200 MPa and a duration of up to 100 microseconds, the device comprising: a. a substrate comprising opposed surfaces;b. at least one igniter bonded to one of the surfaces of the substrate;c. an amount of nanoenergetic material placed on one of the surfaces of the substrate in contact with the at least one igniter; and,d. a transmissive barrier placed in close proximity to the amount of nanoenergetic material opposite the surface. 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the substrate comprises a rigid planar sheet, and wherein the maximum dimension of the substrate ranges between about 10 mm and about 50 mm, and the thickness of the substrate is less than about 10 mm. 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the nanoenergetic material comprises a nanostructured mixture comprising a plurality of fuel nanoparticles selected from the group comprising aluminum, boron, beryllium, hafnium, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, neodymium, silicon, tantalum, thorium, titanium, yttrium, zirconium, and combinations thereof, and a plurality of oxidizer nanoparticles selected from the group comprising copper oxide, silver oxide, bismuth oxide, cobalt oxide, chromium oxide, iron oxide, mercuric oxide, iodine oxide, manganese oxide, molybdenum oxide, niobium oxide, nickel oxide, lead oxide, palladium oxide, silicone oxide, tin oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium dioxide, uranium oxide, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide, and combinations thereof. 18. The nanoenergetic material of claim 17, wherein the weight ratio of fuel to oxidizer is about 1.4 to about 1.8. 19. The device of claim 15, wherein the amount of the nanoenergetic material ranges between about 0.1 mg and about 20 mg. 20. The device of claim 15, wherein the transmissive barrier comprises a material with a density ranging between about 0.8 and about 1.2 g/cm3. 21. The device of claim 15, wherein the transmissive barrier is selected from the group consisting of a flexible membrane, a solid member, a gel, a liquid, and combinations thereof. 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the gel is selected from the group consisting of Type A gelatin, Type B gelatin, hydrogel, and combinations thereof, and wherein the gel has a strength ranging between about 50 and about 350 on a Bloom scale. 23. The device of claim 21, wherein the thickness of the flexible membrane ranges between about 0.01 mm and about 5 mm. 24. The device of claim 21, wherein the miniature device further comprises a tubular member forming two opposed openings and a lumen, wherein the tubular member has an outer diameter ranging between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, and a length ranging between about 1 mm and about 100 mm, wherein the lumen is filled with gel, and wherein one opening is placed in close proximity to the nanoenergetic material opposite the surface. 25. The device of claim 21, wherein the flexible membrane is adhered to one surface of the substrate, wherein the amount of nanoenergetic material is placed between the flexible membrane and the surface. 26. The device of claim 15, wherein one surface of the substrate defines the walls of at least one well, wherein the volume of each well ranges between about 0.1 mm3 and about 6 mm3, and wherein the at least one well contains the amount of nanoenergetic material. 27. The device of claim 15, wherein one surface of the substrate forms a concave surface. 28. A miniature device for creating and directing at least one shock wave into biological targets, wherein the at least one shock wave has a peak pressure of up to 200 MPa and a duration of up to 100 microseconds, the device comprising: a. a substrate comprising opposed surfaces;b. at least one igniter bonded to one surface of the substrate;c. an amount of nanoenergetic material placed on the surface of the substrate in contact with the at least one igniter;d. at least one tubular member forming opposed openings and a lumen, and wherein one opening is placed in close proximity to the nanoenergetic material opposite to the surface of the substrate; and,e. a gel placed inside the lumen of the at least one tubular member. 29. The device of claim 28, wherein the tubular member has an outer diameter ranging between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, and a length ranging between about 1 mm and about 100 mm. 30. The device of claim 28, wherein the gel is selected from the group consisting of Type A gelatin, Type B gelatin, hydrogel, and combinations thereof, and wherein the gel has a density ranging between about 0.8 and about 1.2 g/cm3 and gel strength ranging between about 50 and about 350 on a Bloom scale. 31. A miniature device for creating and directing at least one shock wave into biological targets, wherein the at least one shock wave has a peak pressure of up to 200 MPa and a duration of up to 100, the device comprising: a. a substrate comprising an upper and a lower surface;b. at least one igniter bonded to the upper surface of the substrate layer;c. an amount of nanoenergetic material placed on the upper surface of the substrate in contact with the at least one igniter; and,d. a flexible membrane bonded to one surface of the substrate over the amount of nanoenergetic material. 32. The device of claim 31 wherein the flexible membrane comprises a material with a density ranging between about 0.8 and about 1.2 g/cm3, and a thickness ranging between about 0.01 and about 5 mm.