초록 ▼

The invention relates to a single-blow mechanical shockwave generation device used in urological surgery for disintegration of urinary duct stones, comprising a striking device which strikes a shock wave generation device at high speed. The shock waves are transmitted by a shock wave transfer device

The invention relates to a single-blow mechanical shockwave generation device used in urological surgery for disintegration of urinary duct stones, comprising a striking device which strikes a shock wave generation device at high speed. The shock waves are transmitted by a shock wave transfer device to an object for destruction with which the shock wave transfer device is in direct or indirect contact. The striking device is displaced by way of the expansion of a high-pressure gas introduced prior to each shock wave generation into an accumulation device. The accumulation device is supplied with high pressure gas from independent gas stores and with supply and sealing devices. The stored gas is released by the manual manipulation of a control device which connects the accumulation device to the striking device.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A shockwave generation apparatus for disintegrating an object, the apparatus comprising: a striking device; a shockwave generator; a shockwave transmitter; a gas storage device; a gas source; a gas expansion device; a sealing arrangement; and a control device; wherein i

The invention claimed is: 1. A shockwave generation apparatus for disintegrating an object, the apparatus comprising: a striking device; a shockwave generator; a shockwave transmitter; a gas storage device; a gas source; a gas expansion device; a sealing arrangement; and a control device; wherein in a first position, the sealing arrangement is arranged to couple the gas source to the gas storage device through the gas expansion device; wherein the control device is structured and arranged to move the sealing arrangement to a second position in which fluid communication between the gas expansion device and the gas storage device is prevented while coupling the gas storage device to the striking device; wherein, the striking device, when coupled to the gas storage device, is structured and arranged to contact the shockwave generator, which is structured and arranged to produce a shockwave directable to an object to be disintegrated through the shockwave transmitter; and return elements arranged to return the striking device and the control device to their respective initial positions. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas source comprises a cylinder, and the cylinder is connected by a first duct to the gas expansion device, composed of a pressure relief valve arranged to reduce the pressure of the gas from the cylinder to an operational pressure. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a cradle that includes a front half and a rear half, the rear half comprising a sliding support device, and the front half comprising a calibrated receptacle and a perforation device; wherein the first duct connects the perforation device and the gas expansion device composed of an integrated expansion device; and wherein the cylinder is a micro-container and is held by the cradle. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the integrated expansion device comprises a first chamber coupled to the first duct, the pressure relief valve, a second chamber, and a second duct; wherein the second duct is connected to the first chamber and the second chamber; wherein the pressure relief valve includes a valve head slidingly disposed in the first chamber and biased by a first spring, a valve shank slidingly disposed in the second duct, and a first piston slidingly disposed in the second chamber and biased by a second spring; and wherein a free end of the valve shank is operatively connected to the first piston such that the first piston can push the valve shank. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control device comprises a third duct connected to the second chamber and a third chamber, a fourth duct connected to the third chamber, a fifth duct connected to the fourth duct, a second piston including a seal and slidingly disposed in the third chamber and the fourth duct, and a push rod operatively connected between a hinged lever and the second piston; and wherein operation of the hinged lever moves the second piston such that the seal blocks fluid communication between the third chamber and the fourth duct upstream of the fifth duct. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gas storage device comprises a fourth chamber and a gas storage valve; and a first bore connects the fourth duct and the fourth chamber; a second bore connects the fourth chamber and a fifth chamber; the fourth chamber is connected to the fifth duct; the gas storage valve is disposed in the fourth chamber and includes a hollow valve head and a tubular valve body; the tubular valve body is slidingly disposed in the second bore and constitutes a sixth duct that connects the fourth chamber and the fifth chamber; a gas storage spring biases the gas storage valve such that there is no fluid communication between the fourth chamber and the fifth chamber; and a gas storage push rod is slidingly disposed in the first bore, whereby one end of the gas storage push rod is operatively connected to the hollow valve head and another end of the gas storage push rod can be engaged by the second piston, such that movement of the second piston can move the hollow valve head and allow fluid communication between the fourth chamber and the fifth chamber. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the striking device comprises a striking hammer including a hammer piston, hammer body, and striking head; the hammer piston is slidingly disposed in a third bore connecting the fifth chamber and a sixth chamber; the third bore includes a decompression zone; the hammer body and striking head being disposed in the sixth chamber; a hammer spring biases the hammer piston into the third bore; and a seventh duct and a check valve connect the sixth chamber to the atmosphere. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the shockwave generator comprises an interface device and a transfer device; wherein the sixth chamber is connected to a fourth bore, the fourth bore is connected to a seventh chamber, the seventh chamber is connected to a fifth bore, and the fifth bore is connected to an eighth chamber; the interface device has an end disposed in the sixth chamber and crosses through the fourth bore; the transfer device has an end operatively connected to the interface device; and a generator spring biases another end of the transfer device into contact with a guide head. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the shockwave transmitter comprises the guide head and a guide rod; and wherein the guide head is disposed in the eighth chamber and the guide rod extends out of the eighth chamber and is designed and arranged for at least indirect contact with the object to be disintegrated. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the weight of the striking hammer is about 10 grams. 11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fourth chamber is designed and arranged to accommodate an operational pressure of about 15 bar to about 30 bar. 12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fourth chamber has a volume of about 1 cubic centimeter to about 3 cubic centimeters. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas source contains carbon dioxide. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the carbon dioxide in the gas source is at a pressure of about 70 bar to about 200 bar. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the striking device returns to its initial position due to spring force, and the control device returns to its initial position due to pressure in the gas expansion device. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a successive triggering device whereby a single actuation of the control device initiates the generation of several successive shockwaves. 17. A method of producing a high amplitude wave which can be used to disintegrate an object, the method comprising: storing a gas at a storage pressure; expanding a portion of the gas such that it is at an operational pressure that is less than the storage pressure; accumulating a volume of the gas at the operational pressure; actuating a control device to temporarily prevent a further accumulation of the volume of gas while the accumulated volume of gas generates the wave. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the gas is stored in a cylinder, the storage pressure is in the range of about 70 bar to about 200 bar, and the operational pressure is in the range of about 15 bar to about 30 bar.