US3927675A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for fragmenting urinary calculus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-11-08
•
Granted: 1975-12-23
•
Expires: 1993-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A device for the bloodless removal of urinary calculus by fragmenting the calculus by ultrasound and extracting the fragments with a catheter comprises a liquid-tight, flexible metal spiral tubular probe slidably mounted in a cystoscope. A flexible, elongate sound conductor such as a wire or a capillary tube having a rebound or impact element on its end is slidably mounted in the tubular probe. The conductor is oscillated by an ultrasonic transducer such as a piezo electric compound oscillator. The tubular probe is encased in a thin sheath and the forward end is turned in and liquid tightly joined to the rebound or impact element in such manner that enables said element to be extended out of the end of the probe, whilst in a retracted position it surrounds and protects the element. A fluid medium, such as a gas, may be introduced into the sheath. If the sound conductor is made of magneto strictive material and the tubular probe is made of copper a high frequency current may be fed to the spiral corresponding to the natural frequency of the conductor thereby obviating the necessity for providing a separate ultrasonic transducer.
Inventors
- 👤 Reimar Pohlman
- 👤 Manfred Cichos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61B17/22012; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320072; A61B2017/320073; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/88; A61B17/92; A61B2017/922; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00982; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B2217/007; A61B90/00; A61B90/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A device for fragmenting urinary calculus in combination with a cystoscope and comprising a liquid-tight flexible tubular probe means, said cystoscope having guide means for accommodating the probe means, said probe means slidably mounted in the cystoscope, a flexible, elongate sound conductor extending through the probe means from one end to the other end of the probe means, a rebound element disposed at the other end of the probe means having at least one cutting edge and loosely mounted in relationship to the conductor, said probe means including means at the other end of the probe means for slidably receiving said rebound element, and means for oscillating said sound conductor ultrasonically whereby said rebound element in response to the conductor is cyclically slidable and independently movable of the conductor to contact and fragment the urinary calculus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A device for fragmenting urinary calculus in combination with a cystoscope and comprising a liquid-tight flexible tubular probe means, said cystoscope having guide means for accommodating the probe means, said probe means slidably mounted in the cystoscope, a flexible, elongate sound conductor extending through the probe means from one end to the other end of the probe means, a rebound element disposed at the other end of the probe means having at least one cutting edge and loosely mounted in relationship to the conductor, said probe means including means at the other end of the probe means for slidably receiving said rebound element, and means for oscillating said sound conductor ultrasonically whereby said rebound element in response to the conductor is cyclically slidable and independently movable of the conductor to contact and fragment the urinary calculus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sound conductor includes a readily flexible wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spiral tubular probe is liquid-tightly closed at its working end by the rebound body of which the end projecting out of the probe is provided with drilling prongs the length of which is greater than the diameter of the probe to be fragmented.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sound conductor is made of a magnetostrictive material and the spiral tubular probe is made of copper, and the spiral probe is fed with a high frequency current the frequency of which corresponds to the natural frequency of the sound conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sound conductor includes a flexible capillary tube through which the fluiD may pass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 including a loop of wire surrounding the middle of the rebound element, which loop is secured to the probe means and prevents the rebound element from being removed from the probe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conductor is movable in the probe means independently of the rebound element whereas the rebound element is movable with the probe means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the rebound element and conductor are separate parts and there is an absence of any permanent connection therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the probe means includes means for preventing the rebound element from disengaging therewith while the sound conductor is slidable in the probe means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the rebound element is limited in longitudinal movement and the conductor is spaced therefrom until operation is to occur.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein for the purpose of transforming the movement amplitude the sound conductor is connected to an ultrasonic transducer in the proximity of a movement node.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is a piezoelectric compound oscillator which is stepped in itself in order to increase the output amplitude.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic transducer in pulse operation works with a steep transient flank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is with an axial hole and is fixed but slidable along the sound conductor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spiral tubular probe is encased in a flexible sheath.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the sheath has an end adjacent the rebound element that is folded inwardly and including means for fastening said end to the central portion of the rebound element whereby the rebound element can be pushed out of the hose by the sound conductor, while in the retracted state the element is covered by the sheath.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein at its front end the sheath surrounding the spiral tube is turned in and includes means for liquid-tightly joining the sheath to the rebound element in such a manner that it enables the rebound element to be extended by contact with the conductor, while in the retracted condition it surrounds and protects the rebound element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 17, including means for introducing a fluid into the sheath to cause expansion thereof at the area of the turned-in portion of the sheath.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said sheath is flexible and includes a major portion which surrounds the spiral tube and at least a part of the rebound element and a reverse turned portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said reverse turned portion of the sheath defines an end of the sheath and means for liquid-tightly joining the said end of the sheath to the rebound element, said sheath being flexible enough to permit the rebound element to extend from the sheath when the device is operated, while permitting the sheath to surround the rebound element in its retracted position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as claimed in claim 20 including means for introducing a fluid into the sheath to cause expansion of the sheath in the area between at least a section of the major portion and the reverse turned portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2334453A
Cited
US3543757A
Cited
US3557793A
Cited
US3509953A
Cited
US3673475A
Cited
US3792701A
Cited
US3693613A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |