Apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves provided with a screen which reduces the electric leakages
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves, comprising a truncated ellipsoidal reflector for reflecting the shock waves, comprising a cavity constituting a chamber for reflecting said shock waves of the same truncated ellipsoidal form, at least one of the two focal points of the ellipsoid is disposed in said chamber opposite said truncated part, said chamber being filled with a dielectric liquid for transmitting the shock waves, for example water or an oil, a shock wave generator device, conventionally comprising two electrodes, is disposed at least partly inside said chamber, with said two electrodes arranged to generate an electric arc or discharge at said focal point lying in said chamber opposite said truncated part;
- and means are provided for selectively and substantially instantaneously delivering an electric voltage to said electrodes provoking said electric arc or discharge between said electrodes generating said shock waves in said liquid at said focal point, Wherein the improvement comprises the provision of an equipotential screen applied on said truncated part, being fast with the ellipsoidal reflector and directly connected to earth by its support formed by the ellipsoidal reflector itself.
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Abstract
An apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves having a truncated ellipsoidal reflector is provided. The apparatus has a cavity which constitutes a chamber for reflecting shock waves, the chamber being filled with a dielectric liquid such as water or oil. The apparatus also has a shock wave generator device which generally has two electrodes and a source for selectively and substantially instantaneously providing an electric voltage to the electrodes. The equipotential screen is fast with the ellipsoidal reflector and is grounded by the support formed by the ellipsoidal reflector. This equipotential screen limits electric leakage and thus renders the apparatus safer in operation for destroying targets such as tissues, biliary concretions, kidney stones, etc.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. In an apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves, comprising a truncated ellipsoidal reflector for reflecting the shock waves, comprising a cavity constituting a chamber for reflecting said shock waves of the same truncated ellipsoidal form, at least one of the two focal points of the ellipsoid is disposed in said chamber opposite said truncated part, said chamber being filled with a dielectric liquid for transmitting the shock waves, for example water or an oil, a shock wave generator device, conventionally comprising two electrodes, is disposed at least partly inside said chamber, with said two electrodes arranged to generate an electric arc or discharge at said focal point lying in said chamber opposite said truncated part;
- and means are provided for selectively and substantially instantaneously delivering an electric voltage to said electrodes provoking said electric arc or discharge between said electrodes generating said shock waves in said liquid at said focal point, Wherein the improvement comprises the provision of an equipotential screen applied on said truncated part, being fast with the ellipsoidal reflector and directly connected to earth by its support formed by the ellipsoidal reflector itself.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeInstitut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale (Inserm) (Allianz Global Investors GmbH), Technomed International
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Original AssigneeInstitut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale (Inserm) (Allianz Global Investors GmbH), Technomed International
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InventorsCathignol, Dominique, Mestas, Jean-Louis
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Primary Examiner(s)Thaler, Michael H.
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Application NumberUS06/872,957Time in Patent OfficeDaysField of Search128/328, 128/24 A, 361/232, 361/229, 361/230US Class Current601/4CPC Class CodesG10K 15/06 using electric discharge
