Device for advancing an electrode-holder element in an apparatus generating pulses for the destruction of targets such as kidney stones
First Claim
1. A device for advancing an electrode-holder element particularly in a pulse generating apparatus comprising a reflector, in particular an ellipsoidal reflector comprising a cavity for reflecting said pulses toward a target, said electrode-holder element being mounted in an insulating support fixed on the wall of the ellipsoidal reflector and being formed by a rod disposed in a cylindrical cavity in the insulating support, said electrode-holder being mounted in said support for axial translation, said electrode-holder element having a front part holding said electrode, an intermediate part and a rear part, said advancing device comprising a wheel means provided on its periphery with rotation means for setting said wheel means in rotation with the aid of a control member acting on said rotation means, wherein said wheel means comprises a central, coaxial through orifice through which one of said intermediate part and said rear part of the electrode-holder element passes, said electrode-holder element being fast in rotation but mobile in axial translation with respect to said wheel means which is of fixed axial position with respect to the insulating support, one of said intermediate part and said rear part of said electrode-holder element comprising axial translation means for producing axial translation of said electrode-holder element as a result of a rotation in either direction of said wheel means by said control member, said electrode-holder element being adapted to be dismounted with respect to said advancing device comprising said wheel means, the rotation means for setting the wheel means in rotation being constituted by teeth, the control member comprising at least one piston mobile in translation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of translation of the electrode-holder element and passing through the plane of said teeth of the wheel means in order to be able to act on a tooth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a device for advancing an electrode-holder elem in particular mounted on a pulse generating apparatus of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,559,227 to Rieber. This advance device comprises a radially projecting element fast with the rear part of the electrode-holder element and a member for controlling same, the radially projecting element being formed by a toothed wheel of fixed axial position with respect to the insulating support and controlled in rotation by two pistons mounted symmetrically on either side of the wheel to control a rotation in both directions. This device allows a greater precision of the advance of the electrode and an increase in the efficiency of destruction of the targets.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A device for advancing an electrode-holder element particularly in a pulse generating apparatus comprising a reflector, in particular an ellipsoidal reflector comprising a cavity for reflecting said pulses toward a target, said electrode-holder element being mounted in an insulating support fixed on the wall of the ellipsoidal reflector and being formed by a rod disposed in a cylindrical cavity in the insulating support, said electrode-holder being mounted in said support for axial translation, said electrode-holder element having a front part holding said electrode, an intermediate part and a rear part, said advancing device comprising a wheel means provided on its periphery with rotation means for setting said wheel means in rotation with the aid of a control member acting on said rotation means, wherein said wheel means comprises a central, coaxial through orifice through which one of said intermediate part and said rear part of the electrode-holder element passes, said electrode-holder element being fast in rotation but mobile in axial translation with respect to said wheel means which is of fixed axial position with respect to the insulating support, one of said intermediate part and said rear part of said electrode-holder element comprising axial translation means for producing axial translation of said electrode-holder element as a result of a rotation in either direction of said wheel means by said control member, said electrode-holder element being adapted to be dismounted with respect to said advancing device comprising said wheel means, the rotation means for setting the wheel means in rotation being constituted by teeth, the control member comprising at least one piston mobile in translation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of translation of the electrode-holder element and passing through the plane of said teeth of the wheel means in order to be able to act on a tooth.
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6. An apparatus for generating high frequency pulses, comprising a truncated ellipsoidal reflector for reflecting the pulses in the direction of a target, comprising a cavity constituting a chamber for reflecting said pulses of the same truncated ellipsoidal form defining two focal points, one of the focal points of the ellipsoid being disposed in said chamber opposite said truncated part, said chamber being filled with a pulse transmitting liquid, a pulse generating device, conventionally comprising two electrodes, and disposed at least in part inside said chamber, with said two electrodes arranged to generate an electric discharge at the focal point located in said chamber opposite said truncated part;
- and means for selectively and substantially instantaneously delivering an electric voltage to said two electrodes causing said electrical discharge between said electrodes generating said pulses in said liquid at said focal point, each electrode being connected to an electrically conducting electrode-holder element, the assembly formed by the electrode and the electrode-holder element being mounted for axial translation in an insulating support fixed on the wall of the ellipsoidal reflector, said electrode-holder element having a front part holding said electrode, an intermediate part and a rear part, said electrode-holder element including an advancing device comprising a wheel means provided on its periphery with rotation means for setting said wheel means in rotation with the aid of a control member acting on said rotation means, said wheel means comprising a coaxial central through orifice through which one of said intermediate part and said rear part of the electrode-holder element passes, said electrode-holder element being fast in rotation but mobile in translation with respect to said wheel means which is of fixed position with respect to the insulating support, one of said intermediate part and said rear part of said electrode-holder element comprising axial translation means for producing axial translation of said electrode-holder element as a result of a rotation in either direction of said wheel means by said control member, thereby allowing an adjustment of the electrode position with respect to said focal point located in said chamber, the rotation means for setting the wheel means in rotation being constituted by teeth, the control member comprising at least one piston mobile in translation and in a plane perpendicular to the axis of translation of the electrode-holder element and passing through the plane of said teeth of the wheel means in order to be able to act on a tooth.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for advancing an electrode-holder element in a pulse-generating apparatus comprising an ellipsoidal reflector having a cavity for reflecting said pulses toward a target;
- said electrode-holder element being mounted for axial translation in an insulating support fixed on the wall of the ellipsoidal reflector, being formed by a rod disposed in a cylindrical cavity in the insulating support, and having a front part holding an electrode, an intermediate part, and a rear part; and
said advancing device comprising;(a) wheel means mounted on the electrode-holder element and being axially fixed relative to the insulating support, the electrode-holder element being rotatably fixed but axially movable relative to said wheel means and the wheel means comprising; (i) a central, coaxial through orifice through which one of the intermediate and rear parts of the electrode-holder element passes, and (ii) rotation means provided on its periphery; (b) a control member acting on said rotation means for rotating the wheel means and the electrode-holder element, the control member comprising means movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of translation of the electrode-holder element and passing through the plane of said rotation means for engaging and rotating the wheel means and the electrode-holder element; and (c) axial translation means on one of the intermediate and rear parts of the electrode-holder element for producing axial translation of the electrode-holder element upon rotation of the wheel means by the control member; said electrode-holder element being adapted to be dismounted with respect to said advancing device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- said electrode-holder element being mounted for axial translation in an insulating support fixed on the wall of the ellipsoidal reflector, being formed by a rod disposed in a cylindrical cavity in the insulating support, and having a front part holding an electrode, an intermediate part, and a rear part; and
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16. An apparatus for generating high frequency pulses and reflecting the pulses in the direction of a target, comprising a truncated ellipsoidal reflector chamber for reflecting the pulses between a pair of focal points, the first of which is disposed within said chamber opposite the truncated portion thereof, said chamber comprising:
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(1) a pulse transmitting liquid filling the chamber, (2) a pulse generating device comprising a pair of electrodes disposed at least in part within the chamber for generating electrical discharges at said first focal point and generating said high frequency pulses in the pulse transmitting liquid thereat, (3) means for selectively and substantially instantaneously delivering an electric voltage to said electrodes to generate said electrical discharges between said electrodes and produce said pulses, (4) an insulating support fixed on the wall of the ellipsoidal reflector chamber, (5) a pair of electrically conducting electrode-holder elements supporting the pair of electrodes, the assembly of each electrode-holder element and the associated electrode being mounted in the insulating support for axial translation relative thereto, and each electrode-holder element having a front part holding the associated electrode, an intermediate part and a rear part, and (6) an advancing device for axially advancing each electrode-holder element and the associated electrode through the insulating support and into the ellipsoidal reflector chamber to adjust the position of the electrode with respect to said said first focal point, said advancing device comprising; (a) wheel means mounted on the electrode-holder element and being axially fixed relative to the insulating support, the electrode-holder element being rotatably fixed but axially movable relative to said wheel means and the wheel means comprising; (i) a central, coaxial through orifice through which one of the intermediate and rear parts of the electrode-holder element passes, and (ii) rotation means provided on its periphery; (b) a control member acting on said rotation means for rotating the wheel means and the electrode-holder element, said control member comprising means movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of translation of the electrode-holder element and passing through the plane of said rotation means for engaging and rotating the wheel means and the electrode-holder element; and (c) axial translation means on one of the intermediate and rear parts of the electrode-holder element for producing axial translation of the electrode-holder element upon rotation of the wheel means by the control member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification