Combination shock wave source

• US 5,224,468 A
• Filed: 04/03/1991
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dornier Medizintechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Dornier Medizintechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Grunewald, Michael, Koch, Heribert, Lobentanzer, Hans, Ueberle, Friedrich, Eizenhofer, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US07/680,072
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.03, 128/24 EL, 606/128, 367/175, 367/157
• US Class Current: 601/4
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/043 producing shock waves G10K15/046, G10K15/06 take precedence; generating seismic energy G01V1/02
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/12 electrically operated

Abstract

An arrangement for generating focussed shock waves having two two-dimensional shock wave sources. The sources are of different types. In particular, an electromagnetic shock wave source is used in combination with a piezoelectric shock wave source. The arrangement has applications in no-contact lithotrity.

Claims

1. An arrangement for generating shock waves, comprising:

a first two-dimensional shock wave source focussing onto a point; and

a second two-dimensional shock wave source focussing onto said point;

wherein said first and second shock wave sources are of different types, and further wherein one of said first and second shock wave sources is an electromagnetic shock wave source, and the other shock wave source is a piezoelectric shock wave source;

said first and second shock wave sources being arranged coaxially, with said electromagnetic shock wave source arranged on the inside, and said piezoelectric shock wave source arranged on the outside surrounding said electromagnetic shock wave source.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a pulse circuit for controlling said first and second shock wave sources.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a settable time delay means for controlling the operation of said first and second shock wave sources in a delayed manner with respect to one another.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said settable time delay means includes a mechanical adjusting means which mechanically displaces said first and second shock wave sources with respect to one another for setting of the time delay.