Apparatus for comminuting concretions in bodies of living beings

• US 4,530,358 A
• Filed: 03/03/1983
• Issued: 07/23/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dornier Medizintechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Dornier System GmbH
• Inventors: Wess, Othmar, Chaussy, Christian, Forssmann, Bernd, Zech, Hendrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kartchner, Gene B.
• Application Number:
  US06/471,673
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 128/328, 128/24 A
• US Class Current: 601/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/225 for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2251 characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2253 using a coupling gel or liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/02 Mechanical acoustic impedances; Impedance matching, e.g. by horns; Acoustic resonators
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/28 using reflection, e.g. parabolic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/06 using electric discharge

Abstract

An apparatus for comminuting concretions in bodies of living beings with a focusing chamber forming part of an ellipsoid of revolution wherein shock waves can be generated by spark discharge at one of the foci, the body being prone in a tub filled with a liquid, where

(a) the focusing chamber is sealed by a high-strength membrane,

(b) the focusing chamber is filled with an extensively degassed liquid,

(c) the liquid is under increased pressure, and

(d) the liquid is made to circulate, the liquid being evacuated at a location of the focusing chamber as high as possible, and a liquid free of gas bubbles being replenished into the focusing chamber.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for comminuting concretions in the body of a living being and including a focusing chamber forming part of an ellipsoid of revolution having two foci accordingly, further including spark discharge means situated in one of the foci, and the improvement of suppressing the dispersion effect of any gas bubbles comprising:

a tub for positioning the body so that the concrement becomes situated in a second one of the foci, the focusing chamber being directly mounted to the tub, the tub and the chamber being filled with liquid;

a common liquid circulation means for flushing liquid through the focusing chamber and the tub and having an inlet for liquid connected to the focusing chamber in the vicinity of the spark discharge means and having an outlet from the tub above the focusing chamber; and

inclined foil means in the tub under the space provided for the body and mounted above the focusing chamber, said liquid as circulated flowing along one or both of a coupling in location at the body and the lower side of said foil means towards said outlet.

2. In an apparatus for comminuting concretions in the body of a living being and including a focusing chamber forming part of an ellipsoid of revolution having two foci accordingly, further including spark discharge means situated in one of the foci, the body being placed in a tub filled with liquid, the improvement of eliminating shock wave dispersion by bubbles comprising:

a high strength membrane for sealing the focusing chamber from the tub, the tub being connected to the focusing chamber;

means for feeding said focusing chamber with an extensively degassed liquid;

means included in the means for feeding for increasing the pressure of the liquid in the focusing chamber; and

means for circulating the liquid, including means for extracting the liquid at a high position from the focusing chamber, above the spark generating means, and returning the liquid free from gas bubbles into the focusing by operation of the means for feeding.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the circulation means comprises a pump (16), a filter (24), a compensating vessel (22), means for pressurization (26), a feed (18) in the vicinity of a spark gap (12) and the means for extracting including a drain (20) with several openings (32) near the membrane.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, including a system permitting exchanging a spark gap (12) without significant loss of liquid, said system comprising a by-pass line (28), a valve (30), and sliders (25, 29).