Device for locating and disintegrating concretions in bodily cavities

Claim 1

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions within body cavities by means of shock waves, said device comprising: a support for a patient; an opening in said support for location of a part of the patient's body which is to be treated; a shock wave generator located below said support and comprising means for generating focussed shock waves; a flexibly constructed precursor fluid section coupled to said shock wave generator, said precursor fluid section comprising a flexible casing extending upwardly from the shock wave generator, means for sealing an upper portion of the flexible casing to the periphery of the opening in the support, and a body of coupling liquid contained by the flexible casing and extending upwardly from the shock wave generator toward the support for transmission of shock waves focussed on a concretion from said generator to the concretion; a bag containing a coupling fluid; and belt means for securing the bag to the patient's body such that the coupling fluid in the bag is placed in direct contact with the patient's body and the bag projects through the opening in the support into contact with the coupling liquid in the flexible casing.

Claim 2

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions within body cavities by means of shock waves, said device comprising: a support for a patient; an opening in said support for location of a part of the patient's body which is to be treated; a shock wave generator located below said support and comprising means for generating focussed shock waves; a flexibly constructed precursor fluid section coupled to said shock wave generator, said precursor fluid section comprising a flexible casing extending upwardly from the shock wave generator, means for sealing an upper portion of the flexible casing to the periphery of the opening in the support, and a body of coupling liquid contained by the flexible casing and extending upwardly from the shock wave generator toward the support for transmission of shock waves focussed on a concretion from said generator to the concretion; a bag containing a coupling fluid; and belt means for securing the bag to the patient's body such that the coupling fluid in the bag is placed in direct contact with the patient's body and the bag projects through the opening in the support into contact with the coupling liquid in the flexible casing.

Claim 6

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions within body cavities by means of shock waves, said device comprising: a support for a patient; an opening in said support for location of a part of the patient's body which is to be treated; a shock wave generator located below said support and comprising means for generating focussed shock waves; a flexibly constructed precursor fluid section coupled to said shock wave generator, said precursor fluid section comprising a flexible casing extending upwardly from the shock wave generator, means for sealing an upper portion of the flexible casing to the periphery of the opening in the support, and a body of coupling liquid contained by the flexible casing and extending upwardly from the shock wave generator toward the support for transmission of shock waves focussed on a concretion from said generator to said concretion; said flexible casing adapted to allow relative movement between the shock wave generator and the support in at least two dimensions.

Claim 7

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions within body cavities by means of shock waves, said device comprising: a support for a patient; an opening in said support for location of a part of the patient's body which is to be treated; a shock wave generator located below said support and comprising means for generating focussed shock waves; a flexibly constructed precursor fluid section coupled to said shock wave generator, said precursor fluid section comprising a flexible casing extending upwardly from the shock wave generator, means for sealing an upper portion of the flexible casing to the periphery of the opening in the support, and a body of coupling liquid contained by the flexible casing and extending upwardly from the shock wave generator toward the support for transmission of shock waves focussed on a concretion from said generator to said concretion; said flexible casing adapted to allow relative movement between the shock wave generator and the support in at least two dimensions.

Claim 14

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions within body cavities by means of shock waves, said device comprising: a reclining surface having an opening therein positioned for alignment with a portion of a patient's body which is to be treated; a shock wave generator comprising means for generating focused shock waves; a flexibly constructed precursor fluid section coupled to said shock wave generator, said precursor fluid section comprising a flexible casing having an upper end fastened to the reclining surface around the opening containing a suitable fluid which couples the shock wave generator with the portion of the patient's body through said opening; and an elastic seal disposed on an upper side of the reclining surface, said seal adapted to fit against the patient's body to seal the fluid in the casing.

Claim 15

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions within body cavities by means of shock waves, said device comprising: a reclining surface having an opening therein positioned for alignment with a portion of a patient's body which is to be treated; a shock wave generator comprising means for generating focused shock waves; a flexibly constructed precursor fluid section coupled to said shock wave generator, said precursor fluid section comprising a flexible casing having an upper end fastened to the reclining surface around the opening containing a suitable fluid which couples the shock wave generator with the portion of the patient's body through said opening; and an elastic seal disposed on an upper side of the reclining surface, said seal adapted to fit against the patient's body to seal the fluid in the casing.

Claim 19

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions within body cavities by means of shock waves, said device comprising: a reclining surface having an opening therein positioned for alignment with a portion of a patient's body which is to be treated. a shock wave generator comprising means for generating focused shock waves; a flexibly constructed precursor fluid section coupled to said shock wave generator, said precursor fluid section comprising a flexible casing having an upper end fastened to the reclining surfaced around the opening and containing a suitable fluid which couples the shock wave generator with the portion of the patient's body through said opening; a bag containing a coupling fluid; a belt coupled to the bag and adapted to secure the bag to the patient's body such that the coupling fluid is placed in contact with the patient's body and the bag projects through the opening into the precursor fluid section.

Claim 20

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions within body cavities by means of shock waves, said device comprising: a reclining surface having an opening therein positioned for alignment with a portion of a patient's body which is to be treated. a shock wave generator comprising means for generating focused shock waves; a flexibly constructed precursor fluid section coupled to said shock wave generator, said precursor fluid section comprising a flexible casing having an upper end fastened to the reclining surfaced around the opening and containing a suitable fluid which couples the shock wave generator with the portion of the patient's body through said opening; a bag containing a coupling fluid; a belt coupled to the bag and adapted to secure the bag to the patient's body such that the coupling fluid is placed in contact with the patient's body and the bag projects through the opening into the precursor fluid section.