Rapid pulse electrohydraulic (eh) shockwave generator apparatus and methods for medical and cosmetic treatments

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for electrohydraulic generation of shockwaves at a rate of between 10 Hz and 5 MHz, and/or that permit a user to view a region of a patient comprising target cells during application of generated shockwaves to the region. Methods of applying electro-hydraulically generated shockwaves to target tissues (e.g., for reducing the appearance of tattoos, treatment or reduction of certain conditions and/or maladies).

1 . An apparatus associated with generation of therapeutic shock waves, the apparatus comprising:
 a spark housing configured to be removably coupled to a probe, the spark housing including:
 a body that defines a chamber having a shockwave outlet, the chamber configured to be filled with a liquid; 
 a first connector coupled to the body and configured to be electrically coupled to the probe via a second connector of the probe; and 
 a plurality of electrodes disposed in the chamber and configured to define one or more spark gaps, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the first connector; 
 where the spark housing is removable from the probe as a single unit that includes the body, the first connector, and the plurality of electrodes. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the spark housing comprises a spark head and a first housing coupled to the spark head. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where:
 the spark head defines a first portion of the chamber; and   the first housing defines a second portion of the chamber, the first portion and the second portion cooperate to define the chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where spark head is permanently adhered to the first housing. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the spark housing further includes a first liquid connector in fluid communication with the chamber, the first liquid connector configured to be coupled to a conduit of the probe to enable circulation of the liquid. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 the probe including a first plurality of electrical connectors associated with the second connector of the probe and configured to be coupled to a pulse-generation system; and   where, the spark housing further includes a second plurality of electrical connectors associated with the first connector of the spark housing and configured to be electrically coupled to the first plurality of electrical connectors of the probe.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 the probe including:
 a handle portion; 
 a high voltage connector positioned on the handle portion and coupled to a pulse-generation system; and 
   where the spark housing is configured to be couple to the pulse-generation system via the probe.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , where the plurality of electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode moveable relative to the first electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode defining a first spark gap of the one or more spark gaps. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , where, when the chamber is filled with the liquid and the spark housing is coupled to a pulse-generation system, the plurality of electrodes are configured to receive voltage pulses from the pulse-generation system via the first and second connectors such that portions of the liquid are vaporized to generate therapeutic shockwaves that propagate through the liquid and out the shockwave outlet. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus associated with generation of therapeutic shockwaves, the apparatus comprising:
 a spark housing configured to be removably coupled to a hand-held probe, the spark housing comprising:
 a body defining a chamber and having:
 a first end that defines an outlet of the chamber; and 
 a second end that is opposite the first end, the second end configured to be removably coupled to the probe; 
 
 at least two electrodes disposed within the chamber, the at least two electrodes defining a first spark gap configured to generate one or more shockwaves that propagate through the chamber and out of the outlet; and 
 a first electrical connector coupled to the body and configured to be electrically coupled to one or more second electrical connectors of the probe; and 
   where the spark housing is removable from the probe as a single unit that includes the body, the first electrical connector, and the at least two electrodes.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , where when the chamber is filled with liquid and the spark housing is coupled to a pulse-generation system, the at least two electrodes are configured to receive voltage pulses from the pulse-generation system via the first and second electrical connectors such that portions of the liquid are vaporized to generate therapeutic shockwaves that propagate through the liquid and to the outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , where the spark housing further includes a cap member coupled to the first end of the body. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , where the second end of the body defines a channel configured to be in communication with the probe while the spark housing is coupled to the probe. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , where the at least two electrodes are aligned with the channel. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , where the spark housing further includes a first liquid connector in fluid communication with the chamber, the first liquid connector configured to be coupled to a conduit of the probe to enable circulation of the liquid within the chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising:
 the probe including:
 a handle portion; 
 a high voltage connector positioned on the handle portion and coupled to the pulse-generation system; 
 the second electrical connector coupled to the handle portion; and 
 
 where the spark housing is configured to be coupled to the pulse-generation system via the probe. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 generating a plurality of shockwaves, via a plurality of electrodes disposed within a chamber of a first spark housing, the first spark housing including:
 a body defining the chamber and having:
 a first end that defines a shockwave outlet of the chamber; and 
 a second end that is opposite the first end, the second end configured to be removably coupled to a handheld probe; 
 
 the plurality of electrodes disposed within the chamber, the plurality of electrodes defining a first spark gap; and 
 a first electrical connector coupled to the body and configured to be electrically coupled to one or more second electrical connectors of the probe; and 
   propagating the plurality of shockwaves through the chamber and out of the shockwave outlet;   where the spark housing is removable from the probe as a single unit that includes the body, the first electrical connector, and the plurality of electrodes.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising coupling the first spark housing to the probe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising decoupling the first spark housing from the probe. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising coupling a second spark module to the probe, the second spark module including a second body defining a second chamber, a second plurality of electrodes coupled to the second body, and a third electrical connector configured to be electrically coupled to one or more second electrical connectors of the probe.