Electrohydraulic probe having a controlled discharge path

• US 5,154,722 A
• Filed: 09/14/1990
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Circon Corp. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Circon Corp. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: D'Amelio, Frank D., Filip, Mihail
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZELE, KRISTA MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US07/583,187
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 128/24 AA, 128/328, 128/784, 128/785, 128/786, 128/642, 128/639, 128/800, 606/127, 606/128, 606/48, 606/50
• US Class Current: 606/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22022 using electric discharge

Abstract

An electrohydraulic probe for impacting object is shown. The electrohydraulic probe comprises a first electrode, and a second electrode which positioned at a preselected space from the first electrode defining a uniformly spaced controlled discharge path therebetween. An insulating means is disposed between and encloses the space between the first electrode and second electrode. The insulating means comprises a relatively mechanically rigid dielectric material that structurally maintains the predetermined space between the first electrode and second electrode while preventing a controlled discharge through the insulating means to cause an electrical discharge shock to occur only across the uniformly spaced controlled discharge path which electrical discharge shock generates and applies a hydraulic shock wave through a fluid to the object to impact the same.

Claims

1. A probe for electrohydraulically impacting objects, the probe comprising:

first electrode means defining a metallic sleeve located at a distal tip of the probe, said metallic sleeve having a seat proximate the distal tip;

second electrode means spatially disposed relative to and surrounding said first electrode means and positioned at a preselected space therefrom for defining a uniformly spaced controlled discharge path therebetween; and

insulating means disposed between and enclosing the space between the first electrode means defining the metallic sleeve and said second electrode means wherein said seat proximate the distal tip receives said insulating means, said insulating means comprising a relatively mechanically rigid dielectric material for structurally maintaining the preselected space between the first electrode means and the second electrode means while preventing a discharge through the insulating means and being responsive to a selected discharge voltage being applied between the first electrode means and the second electrode means to cause a controlled electrical discharge shock to occur only across said uniformly spaced controlled discharge path which generates and applies a hydraulic shock wave to said objects to impact the same.

2. A probe as in claim 1 wherein said second electrode means is concentrically disposed relative to said first electrode means.

3. A probe as in claim 1 wherein said second electrode means has a polyamide resin coating.

4. A probe as in claim 1 wherein said insulating means is a polyamide resin.

5. A probe as in claim 1 further comprising means for disconnectably mounting the probe to an instrument.

6. A probe as in claim 1, wherein said insulating means and said seat cooperate to prevent said second electrode means from moving relative to the first electrode means to maintain uniformity of the space.

7. An electrohydraulic lithotriptoscope having a probe at a distal end, said probe comprising:

an inner electrode having a selected shape, said inner electrode having a flexible thin walled insulating means formed therearound;

a spacer means operatively connected to said inner electrode and being positioned contiguous said flexible thin walled insulating means, said spacer means being formed of a mechanically rigid and dense dielectric material that prevents a discharge therethrough and having an opening located centrally therein to receive and enclose said inner electrode having the flexible thin walled insulating means and an outer perimeter equispaced from said inner electrode; and

an outer electrode comprising a thin walled member having an inner surface contiguous said spacer means outer perimeter defining a uniformly spaced controlled discharge path at a distal tip on said distal end whereby said spacer means provides a relatively mechanically rigid insulative barrier between said inner electrode and said outer electrode to structurally maintain a predetermined space between the inner electrode and the outer electrode while preventing a discharge through the spacer means and being responsive to a selected discharge voltage being applied between the first electrode and the second electrode to cause a controlled electrical discharge shock to occur only across said uniformly spaced controlled discharge path while maintaining the predetermined space therebetween.

8. A lithotriptoscope as in claim 7 further including a proximal;

wire braid sheath and wherein said outer electrode comprises a rigid distal sheath which is electrically connected to the proximal wire braid sheath.

9. A lithotriptoscope as in claim 8 wherein said distal sheath includes a means defining a distal seat for cooperatively holding said spacer means while providing additional mechanical support to maintain the uniformity of the preselected space between the inner electrode and the outer electrode during an electrical discharge.

10. A lithotriptoscope as in claim 7 wherein said inner electrode thin walled insulating means defines around the inner electrode a protective coating resistant to chemical solvents and excessive temperatures.

11. A lithotriptoscope as in claim 7 wherein said probe includes a protective coating.

12. An electrohydraulic probe comprising

an inner electrode located at a distal tip of the probe said inner electrode having a flexible thin walled insulating means formed therearound;

an outer electrode spatially dispersed relative to and surrounding the inner electrode and said flexible thin walled insulating means and positioned at a preselected space therefrom defining a uniformly spaced controlled discharge path therebetween; and

second insulating means positioned within and enclosing the space between the thin walled insulating means formed around said inner electrode and said outer electrode, said second insulating means being formed of a relatively mechanically rigid material having a selected dielectric constant, said second insulating means being operative to structurally maintain the uniformity of the preselected space between the inner electrode and the outer electrode while preventing a electrical discharge through the second insulating means, and being responsive to a selected discharge voltage being applied between the inner electrode and the outer electrode to cause a controlled discharge to occur only across said uniformly spaced controlled discharge path.

13. The probe of claim 12 wherein said second insulating means is a polyamide resin.

14. The probe of claim 12 wherein said inner electrode includes means defining a seat which extends substantially perpendicular therefrom.

15. The probe of claim 14 wherein the outer electrode is in the form of a thin walled cylinder having an inner wall and an outer wall and wherein the diameter of the inner wall is selected of a dimension to position the inner wall contiguous the second insulating means and adjacent the seat.

16. The probe of claim 12 wherein the second insulating means is formed into a predetermined shape and includes an opening extending axially therethrough, which opening has said inner electrode placed therein.

17. A probe for electrohydraulically impacting objects, the probe comprising:

first electrode means defining a metallic sleeve located at a distal tip of the probe, and having an electrical conductor which extends to the distal tip, said metallic sleeve being electrically connected to said electrical conductor;

second electrode means spatially disposed relative to and surrounding said first electrode means and positioned at a preselected space therefrom for defining a uniformly spaced controlled discharge path therebetween; and

insulating means disposed between and enclosing the space between the first electrode means and said second electrode means, said insulating means comprising a relatively mechanically rigid dielectric material for structurally maintaining the preselected space between the first electrode means and the second electrode means while preventing a discharge through the insulating means and being responsive to a selected discharge voltage being applied between the first electrode means and the second electrode means to cause a controlled electrical discharge shock to occur only across said uniformly spaced controlled discharge path which generates and applies a hydraulic shock wave to said objects to impact the same.

18. A probe for electrohydraulically impacting objects, the probe comprising:

first electrode means defining an outer perimeter located at a distal tip of the probe, said first electrode means including means defining an insulating covering about said outer perimeter;

second electrode means spatially disposed relative to and surrounding said first electrode means and positioned at a preselected space therefrom for defining a uniformly spaced controlled discharge path therebetween; and

insulating means disposed between and enclosing the space between the first electrode means and said second electrode means, said insulating means comprising a relatively mechanically rigid dielectric material for structurally maintaining the preselected space between the first electrode means and the second electrode means while preventing a discharge through the insulating means and being responsive to a selected discharge voltage being applied between the first electrode and the second electrode means to cause a controlled electrical discharge shock to occur only across said uniformly spaced controlled discharge path which generates and applies a hydraulic shock wave to objects to impact the same.