APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATING CONCRETIONS IN BODY CAVITIES OF LIVING ORGANISMS BY MEANS OF AN ULTRASONIC PROBE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for disintegrating concretions in body cavities in living organisms, comprising a tubular probe adapted to be ultrasonically vibrated longitudinally and a tubular impact element loosely coupled in the direction of vibration to one end of said tubular probe whereby the ultrasonic vibrations transmitted to the impact element are transformed into shock forces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic probe for disintegrating concretions e.g. urinary calculus, in body cavities comprises a probe tube, ultrasonically vibrated in a longitudinal direction, having at one end a tubular impact element loosely coupled to it in the direction of vibration. The impact element is provided on its free end with a cutting edge, preferably formed by a plurality of teeth. The disintegrated concretions are continuously evacuated through the tubular impact element and the tubular probe.
263 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for disintegrating concretions in body cavities in living organisms, comprising a tubular probe adapted to be ultrasonically vibrated longitudinally and a tubular impact element loosely coupled in the direction of vibration to one end of said tubular probe whereby the ultrasonic vibrations transmitted to the impact element are transformed into shock forces.
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2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end of the tubular impact element remote from said coupling is constructed as a cutting edge.
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3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cutting edge is constituted by a plurality of teeth.
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4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the teeth are of an undercut, trapezoidal construction so that their cutting surfaces are larger than their root surfaces.
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5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the teeth are arranged mutually joggled or twisted so that a line connecting the outer edges of the teeth has a greater diameter than the external diameter of the impact element and a line connecting the inner edges of the teeth has a smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the impact element.
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6. An apparatus as claimed in any of the claim 2, wherein the impact element is guided loosely with slight radial and axial play on the end of the tubular probe.
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7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the impact element is prevented from dropping out of the tubular probe by retaining pins which engage in slots provided in the impact element.
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8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the impact element is loosely supported by a cap sleeve secured to the tubular probe.
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9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the impact element is supported by a helicoidal spring contacTing the tubular probe and the impact element.
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10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the impact element is supported by a resilient tube contacting the tubular probe and the impact element.
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11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein those parts of the ultrasonic probe tube and of the impact element where the two components are in mutual contact during their axial movement caused by the ultrasonic vibrations are of rounded tapered construction of at least one of said parts.
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12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe tube is adapted to be connected to an exhaustor device.
Specification