Shock wave generator
First Claim
1. An acoustic shock wave generator for the fragmentation of concrements in hollow biological organs, comprising a source of laser light pulses, a laser-light-transmitting light guide connected to the source and a converter arranged at a distal light guide end, said converter including an ionization surface means for converting an impinging laser light pulse into an acoustic shock wave in the surrounding fluid and a shock wave outlet zone, wherein the ionization surface means extends obliquely sloped with respect to a beaming axis of an impinging laser light pulse, and the shock wave outlet zone of the converter is arranged in a direct shock wave beaming area of the ionization surface means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shock wave generator for the fragmentation of concrements, having a light-pulse-transmiting light guide and a converter arranged at the distal light guide end and having an ionization surface which, when a light pulse impinges, initiates a shock wave in the surrounding fluid, as well as having a shock wave outlet zone. In order to increase its efficiency and durability, the generator is constructed such that the ionization surface extends obliquely sloped with respect to the beaming axis of the impinging light pulse and the shock wave outlet zone is arranged in the direct shock wave beaming area of the ionization surface, thereby permitting a largely unhindered, low-loss propagation for the shock wave to the application point.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. An acoustic shock wave generator for the fragmentation of concrements in hollow biological organs, comprising a source of laser light pulses, a laser-light-transmitting light guide connected to the source and a converter arranged at a distal light guide end, said converter including an ionization surface means for converting an impinging laser light pulse into an acoustic shock wave in the surrounding fluid and a shock wave outlet zone, wherein the ionization surface means extends obliquely sloped with respect to a beaming axis of an impinging laser light pulse, and the shock wave outlet zone of the converter is arranged in a direct shock wave beaming area of the ionization surface means.
Specification