Generator for a pulse train of shockwaves
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for generating pulse trains of shockwaves for the contactless comminution of concretions in living bodies, comprising a shockwave source including a spark gap, and a reflector for focusing including a hollow ellipsoid filled with a propagation medium, the spark gap being mounted in one focal point of the ellipsoid, the ellipsoid having an opening,the improvement comprising layer means across said opening for generating a plurality of shockwaves having a thickness equal to its propagation speed of sound multiplied by a time period between about 5 and 0.05 microseconds and made from a material having an impedance different from that of the propagation medium, said layer means being mounted in such a manner that it is crossed by the shockwave field, propagation medium being present on opposite sides of the layer means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A generator for pulse trains of shockwaves for the purpose of contactlessly comminuting concretions in living bodies, comprising a shockwave source, for instance a spark gap, a focusing reflector, for instance a hollow ellipsoid filled with a propagation medium, and a layer of a material having an impedance different from that of the medium of propagation mounted in such a manner that it is crossed by the shockwave field.
20 Citations
12 Claims
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1. In an apparatus for generating pulse trains of shockwaves for the contactless comminution of concretions in living bodies, comprising a shockwave source including a spark gap, and a reflector for focusing including a hollow ellipsoid filled with a propagation medium, the spark gap being mounted in one focal point of the ellipsoid, the ellipsoid having an opening,
the improvement comprising layer means across said opening for generating a plurality of shockwaves having a thickness equal to its propagation speed of sound multiplied by a time period between about 5 and 0.05 microseconds and made from a material having an impedance different from that of the propagation medium, said layer means being mounted in such a manner that it is crossed by the shockwave field, propagation medium being present on opposite sides of the layer means.
Specification