FR2675937A1 - Inclined electrode-support device and ellipsoidal reflector making use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an inclined electrode-support device. This common support device (30) for at least two electrodes (16, 18) is characterised in that it comprises an elastic membrane (32) surrounding at least the two electrodes, in a sealed manner, this membrane being filled with a liquid coupling medium (34). This common electrode-support device finds application in a truncated ellipsoidal reflector (10).

Description

Inclined electrode support device and ellipsoidal reflector with application.

 The present invention essentially relates to a common support device for inclined electrodes and ellipsoidal reflector comprising application.

 Document US-A-2 559 227 discloses a truncated ellipsoidal reflector closed by an elastic membrane for the production of pressure waves by electrical discharge between two electrodes arranged symmetrically with respect to an internal focus, these waves being focused at an external focus in which a target to be destroyed, such as a tissue, is placed in coincidence.

 It is also known from document DE-AS-26 35 635 to produce a common support for electrodes, so that this support has a cage shape making it possible to arrange the electrodes axially aligned in an offset manner and facing each other. screw (Figure 4 in particular). The electrodes can be electrically insulated from each other by an electrically insulating plastic coating (column 4, lines 5 to 7).

 Document US-A-4 608 983 also discloses a common electrode support device capable of simultaneously advancing the electrodes (see FIG. 3). In this document, it is also recommended to arrange the electrodes along the major axis of the ellipsoid, the rear face of the common support element being shaped at the bottom of the ellipsis.

 It is also known from document EP-A-O 226 047 a common electrode support device whose electrodes have on their thinned part near the tip, an electrically insulating coating.

 Finally, it is known from document EP-A-O 250 791 a common electrode support device in which the electrodes are of different diameter, in particular, the internal electrode being of a larger diameter than the external electrode.

 The main object of the present invention is to solve the technical problem consisting in providing a common electrode support device making it possible to improve the electrical discharge thanks to a maximum of acoustic reflection on the walls of the ellipsoid.

 The main object of the present invention is also to solve the new technical problem consisting in providing a solution making it possible to generate pressure waves of increased efficiency, thanks to the shortest possible discharge values.

 The main object of the present invention is also to solve the new technical problem consisting in providing a solution making it possible to generate very effective pressure waves, while allowing easy access for the practitioner or a caregiver, as well as a better visualization to achieve the connection and disconnection of the electrodes by a user having no particular skills.

 The main aim of the present invention is also to solve the new technical problem consisting in providing a solution making it possible to generate pressure waves in an aseptic manner, that is to say without contamination by contact with the skin of the patient, of a particular coupling liquid medium.

 The present invention also aims to solve the new technical problem consisting in providing a solution making it possible to carry out extracorporeal treatments by pressure waves in a simple manner, easy to implement, usable on an industrial scale, Said pressure waves being focused on a target area where a target must be placed in coincidence for treatment, for example a fragmentation in the case of concretions, a destruction in the case of tumor cells, further fragmentation when it comes to the walls of a bone fracture, as is the case with osteotripsy.

 All these technical problems are solved for the first time by the present invention in a satisfactory manner, inexpensive, usable on an industrial scale.

 Thus, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a common support device for at least two electrodes, characterized in that it comprises an elastic membrane completely sealingly surrounding said two electrodes, defining a chamber filled with a medium coupling fluid.

 According to an advantageous alternative embodiment, the coupling liquid medium is electrically conductive.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, it comprises a element for handling and / or protecting the membrane, which can be dismantled, making it possible to manipulate the device in particular with a view to its mounting and dismounting and / or to protect the aforementioned elastic membrane filled with the liquid of coupling.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, the angle of inclination of the common support device is between 10 and 250, preferably approximately equal to 150 relative to the major axis of an ellipsoidal reflector.

 According to another particular embodiment, the common support device has a cage shape, the two electrodes being arranged axially offset and facing each other, along the axis of the support device. Preferably, an electrode, called the internal electrode, comprises an apparent rear part for connection with a supply connector.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the visible rear part of the internal electrode is bent at an angle determined relative to the general axis of symmetry of the support device, to allow connection of the common support device of the two electrodes at the same angle relative to the major axis of the ellipsoidal reflector.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, the internal electrode constitutes the positive electrode connected to the high voltage voltage and the other electrode or external electrode is connected to ground or to earth.

 According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned support device is adapted to pass through an opening of an ellipsoidal reflector produced offset from the major axis of said reflector, the axis of said opening preferably being inclined by 10 to 250 with respect to the long axis of the ellipsoidal reflector.

 According to yet another particular embodiment, the dimension of the common support device is adapted by construction to arrange the two electrodes symmetrically with respect to the internal focus of a truncated ellipsoidal reflector.

 According to a second aspect, the present invention also covers a truncated ellipsoidal reflector and comprises at least two electric discharge electrodes immersed in a liquid coupling medium, characterized in that it comprises a common support device for the two electrodes, as above defined.

 According to another advantageous alternative embodiment, the aforementioned ellipsoidal reflector has its lower surface which comprises an orifice for draining the liquid medium filling the ellipsoidal reflector.

 Advantageously, this orifice is disposed substantially along the major axis of the ellipsoidal reflector.

 According to an advantageous alternative embodiment, the common support device for the two electrodes is disposed inclined with respect to the major axis and mounted on the lower surface of the ellipsoidal reflector so as to leave the aforementioned drain orifice free.

 Other alternative embodiments can be defined as indicated in the preceding or following description with reference to the drawings.

 It is understood that with the invention, the technical problems stated above are simultaneously resolved in a simple, effective, inexpensive manner and therefore usable on an industrial scale.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear clearly in the light of the explanatory description which will follow made with reference to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention given simply by way of illustration and which therefore cannot in no way limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings
- Figure 1 shows a partial longitudinal axial sectional view of an ellipsoidal reflector of the type known from the document RIEBER US-A-2,559,227, incorporated here by reference, equipped on the one hand with a drain opening according to the present invention and on the other hand a common electrode support device according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 shows a view along arrow II of Figure 1, in an enlarged manner;
- Figure 3 shows a partial axial longitudinal sectional view of a common electrode support device according to the present invention, independently patentable, equipped with an elastic membrane and its handling and / or protective element, during manufacture .

 With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the present invention covers, according to a first aspect, a truncated ellipsoidal reflector, of the type known by the document RIEBER US-A-2,559,227, represented by the general reference number 10. This ellipsoidal reflector 10 comprises an internal cavity 12 of itself truncated ellipsoidal shape, defining an internal focal point F1, making it possible to focus pressure waves generated at the internal focal point F1 at an external focal point (not shown), well known to those skilled in the art. art in which a target to be destroyed or treated will be placed in coincidence.

 The internal cavity 12 is advantageously filled with a liquid coupling medium 14.

 The pressure waves are usually generated at the internal focus F1 by means of a pressure wave generation device usually comprising at least two electrodes 16, 18 for electric discharge, immersed in the liquid coupling medium 14.

 According to the present invention, and according to a first aspect, the lower surface 11 of the truncated ellipsoidal reflector 10 comprises an orifice 20 for emptying the coupling liquid medium 14, filling the ellipsoidal reflector 10.

 According to a particularly preferred embodiment, as shown, the orifice 20 is disposed substantially along the major axis ZZ of the ellipsoidal reflector, that is to say that the orifice 20 opens in the vicinity of the theoretical crossing point of the large ZZ axis of the ellipsoidal reflector 10.

 According to another aspect, independently patentable, the ellipsoidal reflector is provided with a common support device represented by the general reference number 30, disposed inclined at an angle of inclination determined with respect to the major axis ZZ, mounted on the lower surface 11 of the ellipsoidal reflector so as to leave the drain opening 20 free, as is clearly visible in FIG. 1.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the inclination angle of the common support device 30 is between 10 and 25, preferably approximately 150.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, this common support device 30 is in the form of a cage, as can be seen from the consideration of FIGS. 1 to 3.

 This common support device constitutes an integral part of the invention, which can be protected independently of the provision for opening 20. It should be noted that the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 is an integral part of the invention and therefore of this description.

 This common support device is advantageously provided with an elastic membrane 32, also visible in FIG. 3, defining a chamber filled with a coupling liquid 34, which may be identical, but which preferably is different from the coupling liquid 14 filling the ellipsoidal reflector 10.

 In particular, the coupling liquid 34 filling the elastic membrane 32 and completely immersing the electrodes 16, 18 is an electrically conductive liquid medium, in particular so as to provide a linear resistivity less than about 20 ohm.cm.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, the common support device is equipped, by manufacture, with an element forming a handling and / or protective cover 36 for the membrane, self-supporting, sufficiently rigid to allow the support device to be manipulated and / or protected. the membrane 32, during storage and transport. This manipulation and / or protection element 36 is removable or removable to allow correct operation, the common support without manipulation and / or protection element in the position mounted on the ellipsoidal reflector 10 is shown in FIG. 1. This element 36 advantageously serves as a tool for mounting and / or dismounting the common support device, thanks to a gripping finger 37. This element 36 is simply clipped onto the tubular element 42.

 Preferably, the common support element 30 comprises at its rear part an opening 40 of inclined axis with a value of angle of inclination corresponding to that which is sought for the common support relative to the major axis ZZ of the ellipsoidal reflector 10 The internal electrode 18, or a corresponding electrode-carrying element, comprises an apparent rear part 18a which may even be in projection relative to the base 38 of the common support element 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. This rear part, possibly in projection, bent, makes it possible to make a connection of the support device 30 at an angle determined by the manufacture, with respect to the major axis ZZ of the ellipsoidal reflector 10 as clearly understood from the consideration of FIG. 1.

 It will also be observed that the ellipsoidal reflector 10 comprises an opening 22 also of axis inclined according to the desired angle of inclination of the common support device 30, by which the device 30 is fixed to the reflector 10. The base 38 of the device 30 has a diameter larger than the general diameter of the common support element 30, thereby defining a flange 39 which is positioned against a corresponding shoulder 24 on the rear part of the ellipsoidal reflector 10. This common support element 30 comprises from the base 38 a part of tubular element 42 which is then extended by several arches 44, for example three arches 44, joined at the top by a top part 46 making it possible to firmly support the electrode 16 disposed in a corresponding orifice 48, and It is thus understood that the common support element 30 has a cage shape. The base 38, the cylindrical body 42, the arches 44 and the crown piece 46 as well as here a tubular element 48 into which the electrode 16 is inserted are electrically conductive, being for example made of an electrically conductive metallic material . Therefore, between the internal electrode 18, 18a and the base 38 and the tubular element 39 is arranged an element made of an electrically insulating material 52.

Since the ellipsoidal reflector 10 is made of an electrically conductive material and is connected to ground, it is understood that the electrode 16 placed at the top of the cage formed by the common device 30 is also grounded at L base 38 and the outer edge of the tubular element 42.

The internal electrode 18 is connected to the high voltage source and therefore constitutes the positive electrode, which is symbolized by the + sign in FIG. 3 The connection 26 for supplying high voltage current to the internal electrode 18 or electrode positive is well known to those skilled in the art and is the subject in particular of other patents of the applicant.

 By construction, the dimension of the common support element 30 is provided such that when the latter is inserted into the inclined opening 22 of the ellipsoidal reflector 10, as shown in FIG. 1, by a value between 10 and 250, preferably around 150, the electrodes 16, 18 are arranged exactly symmetrically with respect to the internal focus F1.

 In this way, it is unexpectedly obtained a maximum of acoustic reflections on the walls of the ellipsoidal reflector 10 thanks to a minimum of acoustic shadows which result from the solid angle generated by the common support device 30 and which is shown in lines. mixed in Figure 1, reference 60.

 This problem of acoustic shadow is further amplified by the use of a 10 month deep ellipsoidal reflector having a focal distance between the internal focus and the smaller external focus.

 On the other hand, thanks to the device according to the invention presented in FIGS. 1 to 3, the inductance of the electrode supply circuit is reduced as much as possible by reducing the paths of the discharge current as much as possible. This is achieved by placing the electrodes as close as possible to the bottom of the ellipsoidal reflector as shown in Figure 1.

 On the other hand, thanks to the presence of an elastic membrane 30 making it possible to transmit the pressure waves without significant damping, for example by producing the silicone or latex membrane, it is possible to use a liquid immersed coupling medium. the electrodes different from the liquid medium filling the ellipsoidal reflector, which can be corrosive with respect to the ellipsoidal reflector or to the patient's skin, for example by being an electrically conductive electrolyte. In the cavity 12 defined by the ellipsoidal reflector 10, one can then simply put water. Thanks to the presence of the emptying orifice 20, very good hygiene will be obtained and the possibility of the development of bacteria will be reduced thanks to the ease of emptying the cavity 12 of the ellipsoidal reflector 10.

In addition, the common support device 30 is easily connected or disconnected to the ellipsoidal reflector 10 and thanks to
The inclination of this common support device 30 the operator sees better how to make the connection or the disconnection, without having particular skills and thanks to the element 36 forming assembly / disassembly tool and its gripping finger 37.

 It is thus understood that the invention makes it possible to obtain all the determining technical advantages previously stated.

 Naturally, the invention includes all the technical means constituting technical equivalents of the means described as well as their various combinations.

Claims (14)

 1. Common support device (30) of at least two electrodes (16, 18), characterized in that it comprises an elastic membrane (32) surrounding at least the two electrodes, in leaktight manner, filled with a liquid medium coupling (34).  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling liquid medium (34) is electrically conductive.  3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a manipulation and / or protection element (36) of the membrane (32), removable.  4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the angle of inclination of the common support device is between 10 and 250, preferably approximately equal to o 15 relative to the major axis of a reflector ellipsoidal.  5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the common support (30) is in the form of a cage.  6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an electrode, called internal electrode (18), comprises a rear part (18a) visible for connection with a supply connector (26).  7. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the visible rear part (18a) is bent to allow connection of the support device (30) at an angle determined relative to the major axis of the ellipsoidal reflector (10).  8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the common support element (30) has a dimension adapted to allow mounting in an ellipsoidal reflector (10) with the two electrodes arranged symmetrically with respect to the focus internal F1 of the ellipsoidal reflector (10).  9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the common support element (30) comprises a base (38) defining a surface (39) cooperating with a shoulder (24) forming a housing cooperating with a opening (22) of inclined axis, formed in the mass of an ellipsoidal reflector (10) -  10. Truncated ellipsoidal reflector (10) comprising at least two electrical discharge electrodes (16, 18) immersed in a coupling liquid medium (14), characterized in that it comprises a common support device (30) for the two electrodes (16, 18) as defined in any one of the preceding claims.  11. Ellipsoidal reflector according to claim 10, characterized in that the lower surface (11) of the ellipsoidal reflector (10) comprises an orifice (20) for draining the liquid medium (14) filling the ellipsoidal reflector.  12. Ellipsoidal reflector according to claim 11, characterized in that the orifice (20) is disposed substantially along the major axis Z-Z of the ellipsoidal reflector (10).  13. ellipsoidal reflector according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the common support device (30) is disposed inclined relative to the major axis ZZ, mounted on the lower surface (11) of the ellipsoidal reflector (10) of so as to leave the above-mentioned drain opening (20) free.  14. Reflector according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the internal electrode is connected to a high voltage current and constitutes the positive electrode (18) and the other electrode or external electrode (16) is connected to ground or earth.