Shockwave generator having an ultrasound applicator shielded from shockwaves

US5228447A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Rudolf Harder · Forchheim, DE
• Gert Hetzel
• Hans Kaarmann · Buckenhof, DE
• Georg Koehler · Hermeskeil, DE
• Hermann Kuehnke · Herzogenaurach, DE
• Arnim Rohwedder · Ergolding, DE
• Ulrich Schaetzle · Simmerath, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 28, 1991
• Grant date: Jul 20, 1993
• Expiry date: Jan 28, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G10K15/043
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A shockwave generator for extracorporeal lithotripsy has a housing filled with an acoustic propagation medium, through which shockwaves propagate, and in which an ultrasound applicator is disposed for locating a calculus to be treated. The ultrasound applicator has components which may be damaged if traversed by shockwaves. At least a portion of the ultrasound applicator in which these components are disposed is therefore acoustically shielded with a substance having an acoustic impedance substantially differing from the acoustic impedance of the propagation medium, so that essential parts of the shockwaves are reflected thereby and thus the non-reflected parts do not reach the shielded portion of the ultrasound applicator with sufficient energy to damage the compartments.