Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Contact-free comminution of concretion
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-20
2001-05-15
Casler, Brian L. (Department: 3737)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Contact-free comminution of concretion
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231530
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for identifying the position of the focus of a shock wave source, the shock wave source generating focused acoustic shock waves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An apparatus for identifying the position of the Focus of a shock wave source is disclosed German PS 40 03 350 for a therapy unit for treating patients with extracorporeally generated, focused shock waves, and serves the purpose of adjusting an x-ray apparatus relative to the therapy unit in order, for example, to be able to prepare diagnostic x-ray exposures of the treatment area of the patient during the treatment of a patient with focused shock waves. The apparatus has a conically fashioned carrier with a metal ball at the tip thereof that, when the carrier is put in place on the shock wave source, indicates the position of the therapy focus.
This known apparatus, however, has proven disadvantageous because the carrier that must be put in place on the shock wave source given every adjustment, or every check of the position of the focus of the shock wave source, is complicated to handle. There is thus the risk that the carrier, which cannot remain on the shock wave source during a treatment of a patient with the therapy unit, will be mislaid and may no longer be available when needed.
European Application 0 606 548 discloses an extracorporeal therapy apparatus having an electro-acoustic transducer for generating shock waves. A sound scanner is provided with a graticule that can be introduced into the focus of the transducer by a pivotable clip is arranged within the housing of the transducer. The clip with the graticule, however, is not arranged directly at the housing of the transducer nor is the clip so simple to handle so that it can be pivoted out of the path of the shock waves by an immediate and direct access by an operator. On the contrary, technical auxiliaries are required for this purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the species initially described wherein the manipulation of the device for identifying the position of the focus of a shock wave source is simplified.
This object is inventively achieved in an apparatus of identifying the position of the focus of the shock wave source for generating focused acoustic shock waves a pivotable carrier that is rigidly connected directly to the shock wave source, the carrier support a reference element that identifies the position of the focus of the shock wave source when in its deployed condition. Due to the direct, permanent application of the carrier to the shock wave source, the apparatus is always advantageously at hand as needed, i.e. for checking the position of the focus of the shock wave source or for adjusting an adjustable x-ray apparatus relative to the shock wave source. Moreover, the manipulation of the apparatus is significantly simplified since the carrier for the reference element can be simply pivoted out (deployed) and—after being used—pivoted back by being directly grasped by an operator and without having to employ technical auxiliaries. Further, the permanent attachment of the apparatus to the shock wave source has the advantage that it cannot be lost.
For example, the pivotable carrier can be a clip or bow on which a metal ball is arranged as an x-ray-positive reference element for identifying the position of the focus of the shock wave source. The shock wave source in the case of the present invention is a shock wave source that has a housing in which or at which the components are arranged which are required for generating focused acoustic waves, for example an electromagnetic pressure pulse source, a positive lens and the coupling membrane closing a space filled with an acoustic propagation medium fluid-tight. The focus-identifying apparatus is preferably connected to the housing of the shock wave source at a fixed location (but still allowing pivoting of the carrier).
In one version of the invention the carrier of the apparatus can be fixed in a defined position. For example, the fixing can ensue by engagement of the part of the carrier with the housing or clamping of the carrier. The position of the focus of the shock wave source thus always can be advantageously dependably identified unmistakably and without being sensitive to unforseen impacts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5070861 (1991-12-01), Einars et al.
patent: 5488951 (1996-02-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 5658239 (1997-08-01), Delmenico
patent: 5666954 (1997-09-01), Chapelon et al.
patent: 5921930 (1999-07-01), Uberle
patent: 40 03 350 (1991-04-01), None
Casler Brian L.
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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