US4907572A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vibrational method for accelerating passage of stones from ureter
Assignee: UROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS RESEARCH Inc
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Filing: 1989-04-18
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Granted: 1990-03-13
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Expires: 2009-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A vibrational method and apparatus for accelerating and increasing in efficiency of passage of stones from the ureter comprises introducing into the ureter (U) of a catheter (10) with a vibrating head (12) which imparts radial oscillations to the walls of the ureter at a distance of 0 to 30 mm from the areas where the stone (S) is lodged. Catheter (10) is a flexible tube which has a head (12) which is expandable radially and axially by means of an oscillating element (24) driven from a reciprocating vibrational drive (26). Drive (26) has a tapering end (32) which, during its reciprocations, causes expansions and constrictions of the resilient head, due to its interaction with inner projections (18) and (20). The apparatus is universal in its application and can be used without any changes for pushing the stone, located in the upper part of the ureter, back to the kidney, where the stone can be more readily disintegrated by means of subsequent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. By replacing some parts, the apparatus can be converted into an ultrasonic device for accelerating passage of stones or into an ultrasonic device for destruction of stones in the ureter.
Inventors
- 👤 German Borodulin
- 👤 Alexander Shkolnik
- 👤 Maxim Persidsky
- 👤 Joachim W. Thuroff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61B17/22012; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320072; A61B2017/320073; A61B2017/320074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for removing a stone from a patient's ureter, comprising: providing a catheter having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said first end having a tip and a substantially continuous, circumferentially extending lateral surface; inserting said catheter into the ureter of a patient such that said first end is proximate a stone to be removed, said lateral surface being proximate to the inside wall of said ureter; alternately radially expanding and contracting the entire lateral surface a first amount from said longitudinal axis in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular from said longitudinal axis, said expansions and contractions being performed at a first frequency in the range of 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz, said first amount being selected such that the radial movement of said lateral surface moves said inside wall of said ureter radially in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for removing a stone from a patient's ureter, comprising: providing a catheter having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said first end having a tip and a substantially continuous, circumferentially extending lateral surface; inserting said catheter into the ureter of a patient such that said first end is proximate a stone to be removed, said lateral surface being proximate to the inside wall of said ureter; alternately radially expanding and contracting the entire lateral surface a first amount from said longitudinal axis in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular from said longitudinal axis, said expansions and contractions being performed at a first frequency in the range of 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz, said first amount being selected such that the radial movement of said lateral surface moves said inside wall of said ureter radially in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first amount is less than 4 millimeters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first frequency is fixed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting said catheter into said ureter until said first end contacts said stone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said first end of said catheter contacts said stone before performing the alternately expanding and contracting step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the alternately expanding and contracting step further comprises the step of pushing said stone in the ureter toward the patient's kidney.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said pushing step continues until said stone moves into the patient's kidney.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alternately expanding and contracting step further comprises moving said tip of said first end axially substantially along said longitudinal axis a second amount alternately toward and away from said second end of said catheter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said first amount is less than 4 millimeters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the tip moves at said first frequency.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for removing a stone from a patient's ureter, comprising: providing a catheter having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said first end having a tip and a substantially continuous, circumferentially extending lateral surface; inserting said catheter into the ureter of a patient such that said first end is proximate a stone to be removed, said lateral surface being proximate to the inside wall of said ureter; alternately radially expanding and contracting the entire lateral surface a first amount from said longitudinal axis in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said first amount being selected such that the radial movement of said lateral surface moves said inside wall of said ureter radially in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and moving said tip of said first end axially substantially along said longitudinal axis a second amount alternately toward and away from said second end of said catheter.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for removing a stone from a patient's ureter, comprising: providing a catheter having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said first end having a tip and a substantially continuous, circumferentially extending lateral surface; inserting said catheter into the ureter of a patient such that said first end is proximate a stone to be removed, said lateral surface being proximate to the inside wall of said ureter; alternately radially expanding and contracting the entire lateral surface a first amount from said longitudinal axis in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said first amount being selected such that the radial movement of said lateral surface moves said inside wall of said ureter radially in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and moving said tip of said first end axially substantially along said longitudinal axis a second amount alternately toward and away from said second end of said catheter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said first amount is less than 4 millimeters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the tip moves at the same frequency as the lateral surface.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for removing a stone from a patient's ureter, comprising: providing a catheter having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said first end having a tip and a substantially continous, circumferentially extending lateral surface; inserting said catheter into the ureter of a patient such that said first end is proximate a stone to be removed, said lateral surface being proximate to the inside wall of said ureter; alternately radially expanding and contracting the entire lateral surface a first amount from said longitudinal axis in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said expansions and contractions being performed repeatedly in a single position in the ureter, said first amount being selected such that the radial movement of said lateral surface moves said inside wall of said ureter radially in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for removing a stone from a patient's ureter, comprising: providing a catheter having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said first end having a tip and a substantially continous, circumferentially extending lateral surface; inserting said catheter into the ureter of a patient such that said first end is proximate a stone to be removed, said lateral surface being proximate to the inside wall of said ureter; alternately radially expanding and contracting the entire lateral surface a first amount from said longitudinal axis in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said expansions and contractions being performed repeatedly in a single position in the ureter, said first amount being selected such that the radial movement of said lateral surface moves said inside wall of said ureter radially in every direction simultaneously as viewed from a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the expansions and contractions are performed at a frequency in the range of 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the expansions and contractions are performed at a subsonic frequency.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said alternately expanding and contracting step further comprises moving said tip of said first end axially substantially along said longitudinal axis a second amount alternately toward and away from said second end of said catheter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the tip moves at the same frequency as the lateral surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-12 | 1993-09-11 | 1994-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-12 | 1997-09-11 | 1998-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-12 | 2001-09-11 | 2002-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |