Shock wave generator for extracorporeal lithotripsy
First Claim
1. A shock wave generator for extracorporeal lithotripsy comprising:
- a housing;
a shock wave source in said housing, said shock wave source having a central longitudinal axis and including means for focusing shock waves to a focus disposed on said longitudinal axis;
a flexible sack covering an end of said housing adapted for contact with the body of a patient, and defining a coupling volume on combination with said housing and said shock wave source;
an acoustic coupling fluid filling said coupling volume; and
means for adjustably mounting said shock wave source relative to said housing for permitting pivoting of said longitudinal axis independently of the position said housing and said sack thereby to adjust the location of said focus relative to said housing and said sack while maintaining said sack in contact with said patient.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shock wave generator of the type suitable for use in an extracorporeal lithotripsy treatment of calculi in a patient permits the shock wave generator to be applied to the body surface of the patient, while still permitting adjustment, i.e., displacement, of the focus without removing the shockwave generator from the body surface. For this purpose, the shock wave source is adjustable relative to the housing of the shock wave generator. When the housing, together with the flexible sack which terminates the housing, is acoustically applied to the body surface of the patient, the shock wave source can still be moved within the housing without changing the application to the patient. Additionally, an ultrasound locating system can be arranged in the shock wave source, which can be adjustable in combination with the shock wave source for precisely locating, or relocating, the calculus to be disintegrated.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A shock wave generator for extracorporeal lithotripsy comprising:
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a housing; a shock wave source in said housing, said shock wave source having a central longitudinal axis and including means for focusing shock waves to a focus disposed on said longitudinal axis; a flexible sack covering an end of said housing adapted for contact with the body of a patient, and defining a coupling volume on combination with said housing and said shock wave source; an acoustic coupling fluid filling said coupling volume; and means for adjustably mounting said shock wave source relative to said housing for permitting pivoting of said longitudinal axis independently of the position said housing and said sack thereby to adjust the location of said focus relative to said housing and said sack while maintaining said sack in contact with said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A shock wave generator for extracorporeal lithotripsy comprising:
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a housing; a shock wave source in said housing, said shock wave source having a central longitudinal axis and including means for focusing shock waves to a focus disposed on said longitudinal axis; a flexible sack covering an end of said housing for application to the body of a patient, and defining a coupling volume in combination with said housing and said shock wave source; an acoustic coupling fluid filling said coupling volume; a holder for said housing; means disposed in said holder and extending from said holder through an opening in said housing into an interior of said housing for adjustably mounting said shock wave source relative to said housing for permitting pivoting of said longitudinal axis around two perpendicularly intersecting axes independently of the position of said housing and said sack, thereby to adjust the location of said focus relative to said housing and said sack while maintaining said sack in contact with said patient; and means disposed in said holder and attached to said housing for displacing said housing relative to said shock wave source and said holder along a direction perpendicular to both of said two perpendicularly intersecting axes.
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Specification