Apparatus and process for optimized electro-hydraulic pressure pulse generation

• US 20050113722A1
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Patent, LLC (Tissue Regeneration Technologies LLC)
• Original Assignee: SWS Shock Wave Systems AG
• Inventors: Schultheiss, Reiner
• Granted Patent: US 7,390,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/06 using electric discharge

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for optimized electro-hydraulic pressure pulse generation that records characteristic parameters which can be measured insusceptible to error and compared with set values. The object of the invention is achieved by an apparatus in which an electro-hydraulic shock wave system is provided with a measuring and control device (13a, 13b) that measures the discharge current between the electrode tips (4, 5), and a process that influences the system parameters by means of the apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus for optimized electro-hydraulic pressure pulse generation, characterized in that an electro-hydraulic shock wave system is equipped with a measuring and control device (13a, 13b), which measures the discharge current between the electrode tips (4, 5).

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the measuring and control device (13a, 13b) measures the discharge voltage.

3. Apparatus as claimed one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the measuring and control device (13a, 13b) defines the discharge output.

4. Apparatus as claimed one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the measuring and control device (13a, 13b) compares at least one measured or control value with at least one set value.

5. Apparatus as claimed one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the electrode distance (6) is variable.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that in case of deviation of at least one measured or control value from at least one set value or in case of deviation of measured and control value curves from set value curves, the measuring and control device (13a, 13b) corrects the electrode distance (6).

7. Apparatus as claimed in one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that in case of deviation of at least one measured or control value from at least one set value or in case of deviation of measured and control value curves from set value curves, the measuring and control device (13a, 13b) corrects the charging voltage.

8. Use of an apparatus as claimed in one of the foregoing claims for the extra-corporeal disintegration of concretions in human beings and mammals or for the extra-corporeal treatment of tissues.

9. Process for the generation of optimized electro-hydraulic pressure pulses characterized by the following process steps:

a) Setting of the RLC circuit and of the electrode distance in an electro-hydraulic shock wave system to selected initial parameters,

b) Initiation of the discharging process,

c) Determination of the discharge current and at least one measured value by a measuring and control device,

d) Comparison with at least one set value,

e) Correction of a system parameter by a correction increment based on the deviation from the set value,

f) Further with b)