Ultrasonic treatment controller
Abstract
A controller (10) for driving and ultrasonic transducer (14) is disclosed and includes a processor (16), responsive to a feedback signal, for generating control signals (40) to an output driver (18) which is responsive to the control signals (40), to casue the ultrasonic transducer (14) to generate ultrasound having a power level corresponding to the control signal (40). The controller (10) is preferably attached to a sensing circuit (12) to determine the amount of ultrasound conductive gel (22) associated with the ultrasonic transducer (14), and for generating the feedbacl signal therefrom. The controller (10) includes data logging capabilities to record treatment data and prevent unnecessary extended treatment. The controller (10) creates an environment for safer ultrasonic self-treatment by patients. The microprocessor (16) used in the controller (10) can be used to warn of a low battery (30) condition or insufficient amount of ultrasound conducting gel (22). It can limit the usage of the transducer (14) to prevent over treatment by comparing use data with acceptable limits and disabling the transducer (14) if the limits have been exceeded. The device is contemplated to be portable for ease of transport by patients.

Term
Term ended
Projected expiry passed 17 March 2019, 7.5 years ago.
- Priority
- Filed
- Published
- Projected expiry
- Today
1 sheet
Sheet 1
Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office | Category | Cited during | Relevant claims |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2303552A | Cites | United Kingdom | XA | Search report | 1-19,23,27,28 |
| US4441486A | Cites | United States of America | A | Search report | 18 |
| US4708127A | Cites | United States of America | XA | Search report | 1-18,22,24,28,34 |
| US5003965A | Cites | United States of America | YD | Search report | 37 |
| US5184605A | Cites | United States of America | XY | Search report | 1-19,22,23,27,28,36 |
| US5269306A | Cites | United States of America | XA | Search report | 1-19,22,34 |
| US5541489A | Cites | United States of America | A | Search report | 18 |
| WO8802250A1 | Cites | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | Y | Search report | 26,33 |
24 members in 9 offices
Priority claims3
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40157 | United States of America | – | |
| 4015798 | United States of America | A | |
| 99913930 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A |
Members24
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2324007A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| WO9947209A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| AU3189499A | Australia | A | |
| EP1064053A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| US6261249B1 | United States of America | B1 | |
| JP2002506701A | Japan | A | |
| AU763050B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| EP1064053B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| AT299738T | Austria | T | |
| ATE299738T1 | Austria | T1 | |
| EP1566201A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| DE69926221D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| EP1566201A3This record | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| ES2245825T3 | Spain | T3 | |
| DE69926221T2 | Germany | T2 | |
| JP4088417B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| EP1970098A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| EP1566201B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| AT418361T | Austria | T | |
| ATE418361T1 | Austria | T1 | |
| DE69940173D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| ES2318379T3 | Spain | T3 | |
| EP1970098A3 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| CA2324007C | Canada | C |
56 legal events, as 8 offices reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | Office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Announcement of lapse in spainLapsedFD2A | FD2A | ES | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Notification of lapseLapsedST | ST | FR | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual feeLapsedMM | MM | NL | |
| Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal feeCeasedGBPC | GBPC | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Patent's revocation in full now finalR042 | R042 | DE | |
| Patent's revocation in full now finalR042 | R042 | DE | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Revocation action filedR039 | R039 | DE | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Case pending at federal patent courtR008 | R008 | DE | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| No opposition filedOpposition26N | 26N | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Patent ceasedCeasedPL | PL | CH | |
| No opposition filed within time limitOppositionORIGINAL CODE: 0009261PLBE | PLBE | EP | |
| Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patentGrantedSTATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMITSTAA | STAA | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Definitive protectionFG2A | FG2A | ES | |
| Corresponds to:REF | REF | EP | |
| European patents granted designating irelandGrantedFG4D | FG4D | IE | |
| European patent takes effect as a national patent in ch/liEP | EP | CH | |
| Divisional application: reference to earlier applicationAC | AC | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| European patent grantedGrantedFG4D | FG4D | GB | |
| (expected) grantORIGINAL CODE: 0009210GRAA | GRAA | EP | |
| Grant fee paidORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3GRAS | GRAS | EP | |
| Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patentORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1GRAP | GRAP | EP | |
| First examination report despatched17Q | 17Q | EP | |
| Designation fees paidAKX | AKX | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Request for examination filed17P | 17P | EP | |
| Divisional application: reference to earlier applicationAC | AC | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Search report despatchedORIGINAL CODE: 0009013PUAL | PUAL | EP | |
| Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phaseORIGINAL CODE: 0009012PUAI | PUAI | EP |
Numbers
- Publication
- 1566201
- Application
- 50088681
Titles3
- German
- Steuerung für Ultraschalltherapiegerät
- English
- Ultrasonic treatment controller
- French
- Commande de traitement à ultrasons
Classification
- CPC, 8
- A61B8/4281
- A61B8/4227
- A61B2017/2253
- A61N7/00
- B06B1/0246
- H02J7/44
- H02J7/485
- H02J2105/46
- IPC, 6
- A61B8 00
- A61B17 22
- A61N7 00
- B06B1 02
- A61B18 00
- H02J7 00
Designated states19
- Contracting states, 19
- Austria
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Cyprus
- Germany
- Denmark
- Spain
- Finland
- France
- United Kingdom
- Greece
- Ireland
- Italy
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
- Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
- Portugal
- Sweden