Patent ID: 9131949
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for classifying a shockwave generated and directed towards a stone in an extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy treatment, the method comprising: (a) receiving an acoustic signal at a passive unfocused acoustic sensor following generation of the shockwave; (b) filtering the received acoustic signal to extract secondary acoustic emissions indicative of cavitation as a result of the shockwave generated and directed towards the stone, (c) determining, using a computer, that the filtered acoustic signal includes first and second burst regions occurring after the shockwave is generated, wherein the first and second burst regions are adjacent with a time delay therebetween; (d) determining, using the computer, at least a first peak amplitude value (m1), a second peak amplitude value (m2), and a value (tc) corresponding to a time interval between the first and second peak amplitude values, said values (m1, m2, tc) being indicative of the degree of fragmentation and accuracy of targeting; and (e) classifying, using the computer, the shockwave as effective, if it is determined that the ratio between the second peak amplitude value (m2) and the first peak amplitude value (m1) is between predetermined threshold values and that the time interval value (tc) is greater than a predetermined threshold value.