Electromagnetic radiation techniques for in vivo tissue

Abstract

A method for using a sonic wave to influence material in a target structure requires using a confined plasma antenna to generate an electromagnetic carrier wave, λ. The confined plasma antenna also pulses the carrier wave at a sonic frequency, f, to create a sonic wave. In detail, pulsing the carrier wave results in a sequential plurality of solitons which are separated from each other by a periodicity p, wherein λ«p. For the present invention, f is selected to resonate with a material (e.g. a cellular structure) in a target structure (e.g. a patient).

Claims

1. A method for generating sonic waves using electromagnetic radiation which comprises the steps of: creating a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength λ, wherein the beam of electromagnetic radiation is created for use as a carrier wave; pulsing the carrier wave of the electromagnetic radiation beam at a controlled frequency f to generate a plurality of solitons on the carrier wave, wherein each soliton has a constant shape and the controlled frequency f is a sonic frequency; directing the plurality of solitons as a sonic wave along a beam path of the carrier wave toward a target; and establishing operational parameters for the controlled frequency f and the wavelength λ to influence a material in the target.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating step is accomplished using a confined plasma antenna.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the beam of electromagnetic radiation is a laser beam having the wavelength λ.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wavelength λ is established based on a frequency and an amplitude of an electric field of a surface wave on the target.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein an amplitude for solitons in the sonic wave is fixed in the establishing step.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlled frequency f is a resonant frequency of the material in the target.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the directing step is accomplished using a waveguide.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the target is tissue in a cellular structure.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising providing a modulator connected to a confined plasma antenna and using the modulator to establish the operational parameters for the controlled frequency f and the wavelength λ.

10. A method for radiating a target with a sonic wave which comprises the steps of: determining a frequency f, wherein the frequency f is a characteristic frequency of the target, and wherein the frequency f is a sonic frequency having a period p; generating a beam of electromagnetic radiation for use as an electromagnetic carrier wave, wherein the electromagnetic carrier wave has a wavelength λ, and wherein the wavelength λ is smaller than the period p; pulsing the electromagnetic carrier wave at the frequency f to create a plurality of solitons on the electromagnetic carrier wave, wherein each soliton has a constant shape and wherein the plurality of solitons collectively constitute the sonic wave; and directing the sonic wave onto the target.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the generating step is accomplished using a confined plasma antenna.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein frequency f is a resonant frequency of a material in the target.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the beam of electromagnetic radiation is a laser beam having the wavelength λ.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the wavelength λ is based on a frequency and an amplitude of an electric field of a surface wave on the target.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic presentation of the components of the present invention in their intended operational environment; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the electromagnetic/sonic-soli ton beam generated in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) Referring initially to FIG. 1, a system in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally designated 10. As shown, the system 10 includes a confined plasma antenna 12 which is controlled by a modulator 14 to generate an electromagnetic/sonic-soliton beam 16. Further, the system 10 can optionally include a waveguide 18 which will direct the electromagnetic/sonic-soliton beam 16 along a beam path 20 toward a target, such as the patient 22. As envisioned for the present invention, the waveguide 18 can be of any type well known in the pertinent art. For instance, when the ES-S wave 16 incorporates a laser as its the carrier, the waveguide 18 may be an optical fiber. In any event, as indicated in FIG. 1, the waveguide 18 is intended to have the capability of radiating all, or selected portions, of the target (patient 22).

(5) As shown in FIG. 2, an electromagnetic/sonic-soliton beam 16 is shown to include a plurality of solitons 24, of which the solitons 24a, 24b and 24c are exemplary. Further, it will be seen that the electromagnetic/sonic-soliton beam 16 is based on an electromagnetic radiation 26 which has a wavelength λ, and effectively acts as a carrier for a sonic wave 28.

(6) Operationally, the sonic wave 28 is created by pulsing the electromagnetic wave 26 at a sonic frequency f, prior to a radiation of the electromagnetic/sonic-soliton beam 16 from the confined plasma antenna 12. As intended for the present invention, pulsing of the electromagnetic wave 26 is accomplished with a periodicity p for the sonic frequency f. As indicated in FIG. 2, λ is very much shorter than p. The result of all this is that each soliton is contained within a defining envelope 30 that effectively acts as a sonic wave 28. Thus, each soliton 24, in sequence with other solitons 24, can be directed onto a target/patient 22 to influence material (e.g. cellular structure) in the target/patient 22 as the sonic wave 28.