Apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves of which the electrical supply connection is disposed inside a tubular element, limiting or preventing electro-magnetic leakages

• US 4,915,094 A
• Filed: 11/17/1988
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Institut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale (Inserm) (Allianz Global Investors GmbH), Technomed International
• Original Assignee: Inserm (institut national de la sant et de la recherche mdicale, Technomed International
• Inventors: Lacruche, Bernard, Cathignol, Dominique, Hascoet, Gerard, Mestas, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US07/273,611
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 361/232, 128/24 A, 128/328
• US Class Current: 601/4
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/06 using electric discharge

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves, which comprises a generator of shock waves by electric discharge between at least two electrodes disposed at least in part in a chamber filled with liquid, and advantageously supplied intermittently with electric current from a source of electric current via a supply connection, the generator device allowing the focusing of the shock waves on a target, and is characterized in that the supply connection for supplying electric current to the electrodes is disposed inside a substantially closed tubular element in order to limit or prevent electro-magnetic leakages. This tubular element is preferably mounted to move in any point in space relatively to the frame and supports the shock wave generating device. Thanks to this apparatus, electro-magnetic leakages are limited or prevented and patients'"'"' safety is therefore improved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves for the remote destruction of targets, preferably constituted by biliary concretions, kidney stones or the like, comprising a shock wave generator device comprising at least two electrodes disposed at least partly in a chamber filled with a liquid;

a source of high-voltage electric current;

an electric current supply connection means for intermittently supplying said electrodes with electric current from said source of electric current, said supply connection means comprising at least one condenser and electric conductors connecting said condenser to said electrodes for supplying intermittent electric current to the electrodes; and

a substantially closed tubular element, at least a part of said supply connection means, said part including said condenser, being disposed inside said tubular element in order to limit or prevent electromagnetic leakages.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shock wave generator comprises an ellipsoidal reflector, the axis z merging with the axis of revolution of the ellipsoidal reflector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supply connection means further comprises an intermediate device comprising closing means for intermittently closing the circuit between the electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrode advance controlling device for controlling the advance of the electrodes, and a supply conduit for the controlling device, the supply conduit being disposed in the tubular element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material of the tubular element is a metal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the material of the tubular element is selected from a group consisting of iron and a stainless steel.

7. An apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves for the remote destruction of targets, preferably consistuted by biliary concretions, kidney stones or the like, comprising a frame;

a shock wave generator device generating shock waves comprising at least two electrodes disposed at least partly in a chamber filled with a liquid;

a source of high-voltage electric current; and

an electric current supply connection means for intermmittently supplying said electrodes with electric current from said source of electric current, said supply connection means comprising at least one condenser and electric conductors connecting said condenser to said electrodes for intermittently supplying electric current to the electrodes;

a substantially closed tubular element, at least a part of said supply connection means being disposed inside said substantially closed tubular element, said tubular element being disposed vertically and being closed at its upper end by the shock wave generator device mounted thereon;

moving means for moving said tubular element and correlated shock wave generator device in any point in space relative to said frame;

a first plate, the tubular element being connected to said first plate which is mounted to move in vertical translation, along axis z;

at least one guiding member for guiding the plate in vertical translation, defining thereby an axis z of translation of the tubular element;

a second plate, said guiding member being linked to said second plate which forms part of a table mounted in said frame to move in the horizontal plane, along axes x-y;

whereby electromagnetic leakages are limited or prevented while maintaining substantially constant the length, and therefore the electrical resistance, of the electrical conductors between the condenser and the electrodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second plate is located below the plane of said table at a predetermined distance therefrom, so as to create a housing for the insertion of the shock wave generator device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the tubular element is guided at its upper end inside an annular sealed bearing.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for detecting the vertical position of the tubular element and the position in plane x, y of the table, means for transmitting data to means for integrating these values in order to correctly position the shock wave generator device relative to the target to be destroyed.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the tubular element is made of a metal.

12. An apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves for the remote destruction of targets, preferably constituted by biliary concretions, kidney stones or the like, comprising a shock wave generator device generating shock waves comprising at least two electrodes disposed at least partly in a chamber filled with a liquid;

a source of high-voltage electric current; and

an electric current supply connection means for intermittently supplying said electrodes with electric current from said source of electric current, said supply connection means comprising at least one condenser and electric conductors connecting said condenser to said electrodes for intermittently supplying electric current to the electrodes;

a substantially closed tubular element, at least a part of said supply connection means, comprising said condenser, being disposed inside said tubular element, said tubular element being disposed vertically and being closed at its upper end by the shock wave generator device mounted thereon; and

moving means for moving said tubular element and correlated shock wave generator device in any point in space relative to a frame for said apparatus, whereby electromagnetic leakages are limited or prevented, while maintaining substantially constant the length, and therefore the electrical resistance, of the electric conductors between the condenser and the electrodes.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tubular element is made of a metal.

14. An apparatus for generating high frequency shock waves for the remote destruction of targets such as biliary concretions, kidney stones or the like, comprising a frame;

a shock wave generator device;

means for mounting said shock wave generator device to said frame for movement relative thereto;

said shock wave generator having at least two electrodes disposed at least partly in a chamber;

a source of electric current;

an electric current supply connection means for intermittently supplying said electrodes with electric current from said current source, said supply connection means comprising at least one condenser and electric conductors connecting said condenser to said electrodes;

a substantially closed tubular element mounted to said shock wave generator for movement therewith, at least a part of said supply connection means, said part including said condenser, being disposed inside said tubular element for reducing electromagnetic leakages.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the tubular element is a metal.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a first plate;

means for mounting said first plate for movement relative to said frame in vertical translation, along axis z, said tubular element being connected to said first plate; and

a second plate forming part of a table;

means for mounting said second plate for movement relative to said frame in a horizontal plane, along axes x and y, said means for mounting said first plate for movement in vertical translation being secured to said second plate for movement therewith.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second plate is disposed below the plane of the table at a predetermined distance therefrom, for creating a recess for the shock wave generator device.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the shock wave generator device comprises an ellipsoidal reflector, said axis z being coincident with the axis of revolution of the ellipsoidal reflector.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for detecting the position of the tubular element along the x, y and z axes;

means for transmitting said positions in the form of electrical signals; and

means for integrating the signals to correctly position the shock wave generator device relative to a target to be destroyed thereby.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least part of said supply connection means disposed in said tubular element comprises a closing means for intermittently closing the circuit between said electrodes and said source of electric current.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said tubular element is disposed vertically, and wherein shock wave generator device is mounted on the upper end of said tubular element.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for detecting the position of the tubular element relative to the frame;

means for transmitting said position in the form of an electrical signal; and

means for integrating the signal to correctly position the shock wave generator device relative to a target to be destroyed thereby.