APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HIGH-INTENSITY ULTRASONIC WAVES TO A TARGET VOLUME WITHIN A HUMAN OR ANIMAL BODY

摘要

An apparatus for focussing vibrational energy upon a target volume (30) within a surrounding contiguous medium, imparts high intensity energy upon the target volume from low level energy sources. A plurality of standing compression waves (18) are established within the medium along corresponding longitudinal axes between opposing pairs of coordinated transducers (10a, 10b). The target volume is located at the common intersection of the axes of the standing compression waves. The phase angle of each standing compression wave is regulated so as to cause each wave to be at its maximum intensity (amplitude) within the target volume at the point of common intersection with the other standing waves. The plurality of intersecting standing waves constructively interfere within the target volume, thereby imparting more intense vibrational energy upon the target volume than upon the surrounding medium.