DE8802995U1 - Multipurpose lithotripter - Google Patents

Description

DORNIER MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY GMBH
&THgr;034 Germering

Reg. M 132 Gm

Multipurpose lithotripter

The innovation relates to a multi-purpose lithotripter with a laser, preferably a solid-state pulsed laser. 5

It is known to use laser lithotripters for the contact-free crushing of concretions in the bodies of living beings. DE-PS 25 3Θ 960 describes such a device in which a beam of a giant pulse laser is combined at the focal point of a liquid-filled focusing chamber and there generates a shock wave that penetrates the patient's body and hits the stone at the second focal point of the reflector.

A similar process is known from US-PS 46 OB 979, where a Nd:glass laser is used as the laser (Spelte 5, line 28).

From the magazine New Tech News 1/1988. Pages 12 to IS |

it is known to use a reader for lithotripsy, |

in which the light beam passes through a flexible light guide in |

an endoscope is used to remove the stone. The &xgr;

Device contains a Nd:YAG laser, which has a relatively -

complex power supply required. |

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The aim of the innovation is to propose a multipurpose lithotripter with a battery that is inexpensive, easy to use, has a long life and is versatile.
5

According to the invention, the problem is solved by a reader lithotripter having the features of claim 1. Embodiments of the innovation are the subject matter of subclaims.
10

The innovation has the following advantages:

Both shock wave sources operate without wear (no electrode wear, no mechanical parts in the ellipsoid, long service life).

- The number of mechanical parts is low. - The laser systems have a long service life (>10 ⁷ shots) with almost constant system properties (high reproducibility of the pressure amplitude).
The device is very inexpensive and allows a

compact design. Laser pulse energies of around 2 J can be achieved inexpensively. This makes the new arrangement very suitable for a cost-effective, multi-purpose lithotripter with small dimensions. 25

Preferably, both light transmission paths are fed from a common arrangement, whereby the light can be directed to both paths simultaneously (beam splitter) or the light can be directed to only one path at a time via an adjustable mirror.

Alexandrite or Nd:Cr: 6S66 are the preferred laser materials. This allows for a smaller size and a

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Lower power supply costs than, for example, with an NdiYAG reader with the same pulse energy.

The innovation is explained in more detail using a figure. 5

The figure shows the Q-switched solid-state laser system 1 with the associated power supply and control 1' (e.g. an Alexandrite oscillator/amplifier system with pulse energy

E =1.5-2 J, pulse length t = 100 - 200 nsec or a P P

Nd:Cr:GSGG oscillator/amplifier system with similar specifications). The light beam reaches a variable or fixed beam splitter (4) with a defined reflection:transmission ratio of e.g. 9:1. The light beam is split into two partial beams at the beam splitter 4. One partial beam is expanded (here drawn upwards) via a telescope system 5, 5' (to reduce the beam divergence) and focused with a lens 6 onto the first focal point of a semi-elliptical 3D reflector 2, whereby laser-induced shock waves are generated and reflected to the second focal point of the ellipsoid 2. The reflector is preferably fixed or pivotable under the table cover 7 and is covered with a suitable film (e.g. made of PVC).
The second, less powerful partial bundle passes through optical deflection components (e.g. deflection mirror 8) and beam forming components (e.g. telescope 10, 10' to reduce the beam divergence, which allows better focusing) into an optical fiber 3 with a small fiber core diameter, e.g. from 200 to 300 μμ. The coupling of the second partial bundle takes place by a coupling mechanism 11», whereby the light intensity of the laser beam can be controlled nano- or by microcomputer via a variable beam attenuator 9. The optical fiber 3 can then be in

A syringe with any length or flexible endoscope can be inserted and is brought through a body opening to the location of the concretions.

In a preferred embodiment, in addition to the collision generation laser 1, a pilot laser 12 (preferably a continuously operating laser such as a He-Ne laser - shown in dashed lines) can be coupled collinearly into the optical beam path. Its beam can in turn be expanded using an optic (not shown).

This means that the beam path can be tracked in both shock wave sources (ellipsoid and fiber optic) even when laser 1 is not in operation. In the endoscope, the point of impact of a laser beam on a stone can be determined using an optical

Image guide bundles can be observed.

03.03.1988
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Claims (5)

DORNIER MEDIZINTECHNIK GNBH Germering Reg. M 132 Gm Protection claims: 1. Multipurpose lithotripter with a laser (I) ₁ preferably a solid-state pulsed laser, characterized by the combination of two known transmission paths, namely a) into an ellipsoid filled with a liquid (2) for extracorporeal shock wave generation and b) into a light guide (3) in an endoscope. 2. Lithotripter according to claim 1, characterized in that a common laser (1) is used. 3. Lithotripter according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that an Alexandria or a Nd:Cr:GSGG laser is used. 4. Lithotripter according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a beam splitter (4) that directs light onto both transmission paths simultaneously. 5. Lithotripter according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by telescopic systems (5 ₍ 5', 10, 10') and/or beam attenuators (9). II i I <··
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I Il IIIII &diams; C. Lithotripter according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a pilot laser, preferably a continuous laser such as a He-Ne laser. |< Il Il Il Il Il ·<·! I Il Il Il Il I < I · Ka/_Sz_