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Pleated diaphragm for coupling kidney stone disintegrator to human body

  • US 4,745,921 A
  • Filed: 12/23/1986
  • Issued: 05/24/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An extracorporeal kidney stone disintegrator comprising an ellipsoidal reflector having an axis of rotation and having an open end, means providing a spark gap in said reflector at the first focus point thereof, a flexible cap closing the otherwise open end of said reflector, and a body of liquid filling said reflector and said cap, said cap being adapted for disposition against a human body having therein a concretion such as a kidney stone to be disintegrated, the reflector being positioned so that the concretion lies on the second focus point of said reflector, generation of a spark gap across said spark gap causing generation of a shock wave focussed on said concretion and coupled to said concretion by said body of liquid and the tissues of said human body through said cap, said cap having an annular pleat enhancing flexibility of said cap, said cap including a central body contacting portion, a depending skirt mounted on said reflector, and said pleat being disposed between said central body contacting portion and said skirt, said central body contacting portion having a first predetermined thickness, said skirt having a second predetermined thickness greater than said first predetermined thickness, and said pleat having a thickness intermediate the thickness of said skirt and said central body contacting poriton.

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