Apparatus for the non-intrusive fragmentation of renal calculi, gallstones or the like

An apparatus for the non-intrusive fragmentation of a renal calculus to be disintegrated by ultrasonic oscillations which are focussed on the renal calculus to be disintegrated, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one receiver-transmitter head means for receiving and transmitting ultrasonic waves which are focussed on the renal calculus to be disintegrated, each said at least one receiver-transmitter head means including variable frequency transmitting means for generating ultrasonic oscillations having wavelengths within a very narrow band and receiver means for receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from the renal calculus to be disintegrated;
• control means for effecting a frequency sweep of ultrasonic waves at low power over the renal calculus to be disintegrated;
• means connected to said receiver means for performing a spectral analysis of the characteristic resonance frequencies corresponding to various crystalline structures aggregated within the renal calculus to be disintegrated based on said frequency sweep at low power, whereupon said transmitting means is caused to emit energy bursts of relatively high-power energy pulses possessing the minimum energy at the characteristic resonance frequencies of the renal calculus to effect its disintegration,
• wherein further low power frequency sweeps can be effected to determine the characteristic resonance frequencies of any remaining crystalline structures within the renal calculus so that the high-power energy pulses can be adjusted depending on the shape and constitution of the renal calculus during its disintegration.