Apparatus for the contact-free disintegration of calculi

An apparatus for the contact-free disintegration of a calculus located in the body of a living being, comprising:

• a shock wave generator which can be aligned with a target region in said body, said shock wave generator comprising a shock wave tube means for generating a planar shock wave and which includes a metallic tubular jacket with a first and a second end;
• at the first end of the tubular jacket a flat, spirally wound electrical coil, an insulating film and a conductive membrane being arranged in sandwich fashion, said flat coil having a first terminal for connection to a safety potential, and a second terminal for connection to a supply and control unit;
• a lens means for focussing said planar shock wave onto a focal point in said target region, said lens means being operatively associated with said shock wave tube means and being arranged at the second end of said tubular jacket in spaced relationship to said conductive membrane;
• a coupling fluid filling the space between said membrane and said lens means;
• means for electrically connecting said conductive membrane and said jacket to a safety potential;
• a coupling means provided between said lens means and said body for guiding the focussed shock wave to said body and for coupling said focussed shock wave therein;
• alignment means for alignment of said shock wave tube means with said target region;
• and
• the shock wave tube means providing the planar shock wave with a sufficient intensity and the lens means sufficiently focusing it to permit disintegration of the calculus located in the body of the living being.