DEVICE FOR DESTROYING STONES IN THE BLADDER, IN THE URETER, IN THE KIDNEYS AND THE LIKE

• US 3,785,382 A
• Filed: 05/12/1972
• Issued: 01/15/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heinz Schmidt-Kloiber, Stefan Schuy
• Original Assignee: Heinz Schmidt-Kloiber, Stefan Schuy
• Inventors: Schmidt-Kloiber, Heinz, Schuy, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/252,752
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 128/33R,328,356 60/25 417/395
• US Class Current: 606/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22022 using electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22014 the ultrasound transducer being outside patient's body; with an ultrasound transmission member; with a wave guide; with a vibrated guide wire not applied in A61B17/22012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/922 Devices for impaction, impact element

Abstract

A device for destroying stones in the bladder, in the ureter, in the kidneys and the like, comprising an elongated, flexible lithotriptor insertable in conjunction with a cystoscope or a special catheter through the urethra into the interior of the body until such time when it comes into contact with the stone to be destroyed, a driving mechanism comprising a chamber filled with a liquid, a membrane closing the chamber and rigidly connected to the lithotriptor, and imparting longitudinal mechanical vibrations to same two electrodes inserted in the chamber in such a manner as to provide electrical insulation, and a means which makes electric flashovers between the electrodes possible inside the chamber.

Claims

1. A device for destroying stones in the bladder, in the ureter, in the kidneys and the like, comprising a housing open on one side, a cover plate mounted on the open side of the housing and having a central crossbore, a membrane clamped between the cover plate and the open side of the housing, said membrane defining a chamber within the housing, said chamber being tightly closed and filled with a liquid, an ureter catheter, one end of it fitted in said crossbore of the cover plate, the other end of the catheter being insertable through the urethra into the interior of the body, an elongated flexible lithotriptor penetrating the catheter in longitudinal direction, one end of the lithotriptor being rigidly connected to the membrane, the other end of the lithotriptor contacting the stone to be destroyed, two crossbores penetrating the housing on opposite sides in transverse relation to the catheter, two electrodes inserted in said crossbores of the housing and electrically insulated from the housing, the inner ends of said electrodes being opposed to each other at a distance, and electrical means for the production of electric flashovers between said inner ends of the electrodes.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein a feed pipe and a drain pipe are inserted in the chamber in such a manner as to protrude into same, the feed pipe and the drain pipe each being closed at its front end in the area of the chamber but provided with lateral apertures.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said cover plate defines an interior together with the side of the membrane facing away from the chamber, the ureter catheter being connected to the interior, a connecting pipe being provided on the cover plate for the supply of rinsing liquid to the interior and consequently to the ureter catheter.