Patent EP0225104A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0225104A1
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EP
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Ultrasound gallstone location and therapy method and apparatus
Assignee: Indianapolis Center for Advanced Research Inc
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Filing: 1986-11-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A system of visualization and non-invasive destruction of gallstones and other similar types of calculi within the body contains a real-time ultrasound visualization system for location and identification of the calculi from outside the body, the means for locating the calculus being relatively more narrowly focused and less powerful, means for ultrasonically irradiating the calculus, the means for ultrasonically irradiating the calculus being less narrowly focussed and more powerful, and means for coupling the locating means and the irradiating means for movement of the irradiating means under the control of the locating means so that location of the calculus results in appropriate aiming of the irradiating means.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis J. Fry
- 👤 Bryan Burney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/225; A61B17/2255
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
Means for non-invasively decomposing a calculus within a human body comprising means for locating the calculus, the means for locating the calculus being relatively more narrowly focused and less powerful, means for ultrasonically irradiating the calculus, the means for ultrasonically irradiating the calculus being less narrowly focussed and more powerful, and means for coupling the locating means and the irradiating means for movement of the irradiating means under the control of the locating means so that location of the calculus results in appropriate aiming of the irradiating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
Means for non-invasively decomposing a calculus within a human body comprising means for locating the calculus, the means for locating the calculus being relatively more narrowly focused and less powerful, means for ultrasonically irradiating the calculus, the means for ultrasonically irradiating the calculus being less narrowly focussed and more powerful, and means for coupling the locating means and the irradiating means for movement of the irradiating means under the control of the locating means so that location of the calculus results in appropriate aiming of the irradiating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 and further comprising means for coupling the locating means and the irradiating means to the surface of the body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the coupling means comprises an ultrasound coupler, and means for attaching the ultrasound coupler to the locating means and to the irradiating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the coupling means comprises a tank, means for filling the tank with an ultrasound coupling medium, and means for suspending the body, the locating means and the irradiating means within the tank during location and irradiation of the calculus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for suspending the body within the tank comprises a seat, means for immobilizing the body in the seat, and means for movably mounting the seat within the tank relative to the locating means and the irradiating means to position the body appropriately relative to the locating means and the irradiating means for location and decomposition of the calculus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for movably mounting the locating means and the irradiating means to position the locating means and irradiating means appropriately relative to the body for location and decomposition of the calculus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for ultrasonically boring through the exterior of the calculus to expose its interior to the ultrasonic irradiating means, and means for coupling the boring means for movement under the control of the locating means so that location of the calculus results in appropriate aiming of the boring means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for introducing into the site of the calculus a chemical species to aid the irradiating means in decomposing the calculus.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for non-invasively decomposing a calculus within a human body comprising locating the calculus using a locating means having a relatively lower power, relatively more narrowly focused beam and aiming at the calculus, and exposing the calculus to, decomposing ultrasound irradiation from an irradiating transducer having a relatively less narrowly focussed, relatively more powerful beam.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for non-invasively decomposing a calculus within a human body comprising locating the calculus using a locating means having a relatively lower power, relatively more narrowly focused beam and aiming at the calculus, and exposing the calculus to, decomposing ultrasound irradiation from an irradiating transducer having a relatively less narrowly focussed, relatively more powerful beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 and further comprising the step of substantially simultaneously locating the calculus using the locating means and aiming the irradiating transducer at the calculus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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