US5058569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for generating focused shockwaves having a cylindrical coil and a paraboloid of revolution reflector
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1990-07-26
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2010-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for generating focused shockwaves, suitable for extracorporeal lithotripsy, has a substantially hollow-cylindrical membrane consisting of electrically conductive material and an electrical coil arrangement disposed inside the membrane which can be supplied with a high voltage pulse to rapidly repel the membrane and thereby generate a shockwave. The apparatus includes a concave reflector in the form of a paraboloid of revolution, which surrounds the membrane and coil, and which has a center axis substantially coincident with the center axis of the membrane. An acoustic propagation medium fills at least the volume between the membrane and the reflector. The shockwave generated by the cylindrical coil and membrane arrangement is reflected and focused by the paraboloid of revolution so that the shockwaves converge at a focus. The apparatus is arranged so that the focus conicides with a region of a patient to be treated with shockwave therapy, such as a calculus. The coil is wound in the shape of a cylindrical helix, and the membrane is in the form of a thin-walled, smooth tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Dietrich Hassler
- 👤 Helmut Reichenberger
- 👤 Hubert Schwark
- 👤 Erhard Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/225; A61B17/2256; A61B17/2258; G; G10; G10K; G10K9/00; G10K9/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for generating focused shockwaves comprising: a hollow-cylindrical, thin-walled smooth tubular membrane consisting of electrically conductive material, said membrane having a longitudinal center axis; an electrically conductive coil arrangement including at least one coil wound in the shape of a cylindrical helix inside said membrane; a concave reflector surrounding said membrane and having a reflecting surface facing said membrane substantially in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution and having a center axis substantially coincident with said longitudinal center axis of said membrane; an acoustic propagation medium filling at least the space between said membrane and said reflecting surface; and means for supplying said coil arrangement with high voltage pulses to rapidly repel said membrane from said coil to generate shockwaves which are focused by said reflecting surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for generating focused shockwaves comprising: a hollow-cylindrical, thin-walled smooth tubular membrane consisting of electrically conductive material, said membrane having a longitudinal center axis; an electrically conductive coil arrangement including at least one coil wound in the shape of a cylindrical helix inside said membrane; a concave reflector surrounding said membrane and having a reflecting surface facing said membrane substantially in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution and having a center axis substantially coincident with said longitudinal center axis of said membrane; an acoustic propagation medium filling at least the space between said membrane and said reflecting surface; and means for supplying said coil arrangement with high voltage pulses to rapidly repel said membrane from said coil to generate shockwaves which are focused by said reflecting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil is disposed concentrically relative to said membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane is a seamless tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane has a constant thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane contains at least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, silver and bronze.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: insulating means disposed between said coil and an inside wall of said membrane for electrically insulating said coil and said inside wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising: means for charging the space between said membrane and said insulating means with a vacuum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: means for charging the space between said membrane and said coil with a vacuum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: an ultrasound applicator disposed inside said coil for generating an ultrasound image containing a focus of said paraboloid of revolution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a coil carrier, and wherein said coil arrangement consists of electrically insulated wire wound in the shape of said cylindrical helix on said coil carrier, said coil carrier being cylindrical at least in the region of said wire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said coil carier has a central bore, and further comprising an ultrasound applicator disposed in said central bore for generating an ultrasound image of a region containing a focus of said paraboloid of revolution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflecting surface consists of material which is acoustically harder than said propagation medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflecting surface consists of material which is acoustically softer than the propagation medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said reflecting surface consists of expanded cellular material with closed pores.
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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) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |