Water system for lithotripter
AssigneeBantum Tripter Joint Venture Partners
InventorsA. Glen Brisson, Exequiel D. Cruz, Dianne L. Vickers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water system is provided for an extracoporeal lithotripter. The reflector is aimed downwardly and has a spark gap at the first focus point thereof for generating a shock wave. A rubber diaphragm spans the lower end of the reflector. A water reservoir is provided along with pipes and a pump for circulating water from the reservoir to the reflector and back. A vacuum pump maintains pressure below ambient in the reservoir, the reflector and connecting pipes to control downward ballooning of the diaphragm.
Claims10
A water system for a lithotripter comprising a reflector aimed downwardly and having an open lower end and said reflector having a focus point and means in said reflector for generating a shock wave at said focus point, a rubber diaphragm spanning said reflector open lower end, a water reservoir, means for transporting water from said reservoir to said reflector and back to said reservoir and means for maintaining pressure below ambient air pressure in said reflector, said reservoir and said transporting means to control downward ballooning of said diaphragm.
A water system comprising a sealed reservoir, water conveying means connected to said reservoir and having means for connection to a source of water at ambient air pressure, a vacuum pump connected to air at ambient pressure, an airline connecting said vacuum pump to said water reservoir adjacent the top thereof, reduced air pressure in the top of said reservoir thereby conveying water through said water conveying means from said source to said reservoir by differential air pressure, and means for venting said reservoir adjacent the top thereof to ambient air pressure for permitting removal of water from said reservoir through said water conveying means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.