Electrode to destroy renal stones

• US 5,239,985 A
• Filed: 04/16/1992
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medicuba
• Original Assignee: Medicuba
• Inventors: Zamora, Juan R., Muniz, Manuel S., Gutierrez, Berto O. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US07/870,211
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 128/24 AA, 128/24 EL, 128/660.03, 128/639, 606/128, 367/147
• US Class Current: 601/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/225 for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22027 Features of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/06 using electric discharge

Abstract

A medical electrode arrangement for urological use, has a core with an aperture going therethrough. This aperture receives a first electrode. A cage is defined by at least a side wall having first and second ends. The first end has a receiving unit for receiving a second electrode. An inner space of said cage is situated between the first and second ends and is surrounded by the side wall. The inner space is adapted to receive the core with a first electrode and a second electrode. A plurality of openings penetrating through the side wall of the core and extend from the first end toward the second end.

Claims

1. A medical electrode assembly for use in apparatus for destroying renal stones, comprising:

an outer tubular sleeve having a conical end portion and an open end portion;

a first conductive electrode having a longitudinal axis;

a core member in the outer sleeve extending coaxially therewith and having an open end portion and a conical part complimentary with said conical end portion of the tubular sleeve, said core having an axial bore for receiving said first conductive electrode;

said first conductive electrode extending in said bore along said longitudinal axis and having a conical tip at one end, a slot situated at an opposite end thereof, said conical tip extending outwardly of the conical end part of the core;

a cage mounted on said outer sleeve, said cage having a solid tubular member with an interior part engaging said outer sleeve, said cage having four arms spaced circumferentially from each other and extending coaxially away from said solid tubular member, ends of said arms remote from said tubular member being bent inwardly and joined together to define a receiving portion, said receiving portion having a substantially flat interior part facing said first electrode and a central aperture coaxial with said longitudinal axis of said first electrode;

a second conductive electrode having a conical tip with a base and a substantially cylindrical engaging portion, said second conductive electrode engaging said central aperture, said base of the conical tip being substantially larger than a diameter of the cylinder of the engaging portion, so that parts of said base extend outwardly from said cylindrical engaging portion to define substantially flat shoulders, said substantially flat shoulders engaging said substantially flat interior part of the receiving portion to stabilize positioning of said second electrode within said receiving portion;

said second conductive electrode extending into said tubular cage and having its conical tip axially juxtaposed to the conical tip of said first electrode and separated therefrom by a gap.