Method and device for removing concretions within human ducts

Claim 1

A device for removing concretions within human ducts comprising: a flexible probe having first and second ends at opposite termini thereof and being of inert material and of sufficiently small diameter to be deployable within said ducts including a ureter to a situs of said concretions, said probe comprising: a flexible first electrode extending axially along a length of said probe and being embedded in a solid electrically insulative material; and a flexible second electrode arranged radially outward from said first electrode as a continuous electrically conductive surface encircling and coextensive with said first electrode, said first and second electrodes terminating at said first end of said probe while said electrically insulative material terminates short of said first end by a length of from 0.01 to 10 mm; and a means for generating an electrical pulse connected at said second end of said probe to one of said electrodes such that electrical discharges radiate from one of said electrodes to said other electrode across a surface of said concretions.

Claim 2

A device for removing concretions within human ducts comprising: a flexible probe having first and second ends at opposite termini thereof and being of inert material and of sufficiently small diameter to be deployable within said ducts including a ureter to a situs of said concretions, said probe comprising: a flexible first electrode extending axially along a length of said probe and being embedded in a solid electrically insulative material; and a flexible second electrode arranged radially outward from said first electrode as a continuous electrically conductive surface encircling and coextensive with said first electrode, said first and second electrodes terminating at said first end of said probe while said electrically insulative material terminates short of said first end by a length of from 0.01 to 10 mm; and a means for generating an electrical pulse connected at said second end of said probe to one of said electrodes such that electrical discharges radiate from one of said electrodes to said other electrode across a surface of said concretions.

Claim 10

A method for removing concretions within human ducts comprising: (i) inserting a flexible probe through said ducts to a situs of said concretions, said probe having first and second ends at opposite termini thereof, being of inert material and comprising: a flexible first electrode extending coaxially within said probe and being embedded in a solid electrically insulative material; and a flexible second electrode arranged radially outward from said first electrode as a continuous electrically conductive surface encircling and coextensive with said first electrode, said first and second electrodes terminating at said first end of said conduit while said electrically insulative material terminates short of said first end to thereby form a recess between an inner wall of said encircling second electrode, a terminating wall of said insulative material and an outer edge of said first electrode; (ii) generating in a pulse generator a series of high voltage pulses providing amperage pulses of sufficiently short duration to avoid harm to human tissues; (iii) directing said pulses from said pulse generator into said flexible probe at said second end along one of said electrodes down to said first end placed adjacent to said situs of said concretions, a fluid being collected at said recess; and (iii) discharging said pulses between said first and second electrodes within said recess so as to energize said fluid thereby causing said fluid to direct a hydroelectric impact against said concretions to achieve a efficient fragmentation of said concretions.

Claim 11

A method for removing concretions within human ducts comprising: (i) inserting a flexible probe through said ducts to a situs of said concretions, said probe having first and second ends at opposite termini thereof, being of inert material and comprising: a flexible first electrode extending coaxially within said probe and being embedded in a solid electrically insulative material; and a flexible second electrode arranged radially outward from said first electrode as a continuous electrically conductive surface encircling and coextensive with said first electrode, said first and second electrodes terminating at said first end of said conduit while said electrically insulative material terminates short of said first end to thereby form a recess between an inner wall of said encircling second electrode, a terminating wall of said insulative material and an outer edge of said first electrode; (ii) generating in a pulse generator a series of high voltage pulses providing amperage pulses of sufficiently short duration to avoid harm to human tissues; (iii) directing said pulses from said pulse generator into said flexible probe at said second end along one of said electrodes down to said first end placed adjacent to said situs of said concretions, a fluid being collected at said recess; and (iii) discharging said pulses between said first and second electrodes within said recess so as to energize said fluid thereby causing said fluid to direct a hydroelectric impact against said concretions to achieve a efficient fragmentation of said concretions.