Abstract

A device for spatial location and destruction of concretions in bodily cavities by application of pulsed ultrasonic shock waves generated by a shock wave transducer focussed on the concretion in question, the shock waves being transmitted to the patient by a coupling fluid. This transducer may also be operated under reduced power if appropriate during the locating operation, as an A-scanner, according to the pulse echo mode. A B-section image of the bodily tissue traversed by the ultrasonic field is generated on a monitor by means of at least one B-scanner, so that the concretion present in the section image may be placed in coincidence with a target mark present on the monitor and indicating the position of the transducer focus by a relative displacment between the patient and the device, and the shock wave transducer may thereafter be placed in operation under corresponding high power for destruction of the concretion. A support carrying the B-scanner is displaceable with respect to the symmetry axis of the shock wave transducer during the locating operation, so that it is possible to have a plurality of different section images and thus a high degree of spatial resolution of the section scanned during the locating operation.

Other References

• Breidenthal, R. E. et al., "Apparatus for Non-Invasive Fragmentation of Renal Calculi", Intnl. Publ. No. WO/85/03631 (PCT)
• "Therapeutic Ultrasound In The Production Of Ocular Lesions", by D. Jackson Coleman, M.D., Frederic L. Lizzi, Eng. Sc.D., and Frederick A. Jakobiec, M.D., pp. 185-192 of American Journal of Ophthalmology, 86:185-192, 1978