Electrode assembly for lithotripters
AssigneeHealthtronics Surgical Services, Inc.
InventorsRobert A. White, Jeff T. McCain, David M. Loch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrode assembly has an inner conductor removably connected to an insulating layer. The inner electrode is removable so that the discharge tip may be replaced without destroying the insulating layer and thus reused. In the preferred embodiment external threads on the inner conductor cooperate with internal threads in a bore of the insulating layer to fixably secure the insulating layer in a desired position relative to the inner conductor and discharge electrode tip. The discharge electrode is located colinearly with a grounded electrode tip spaced by a spark gap. The grounded electrode tip is also configured to be easily removed from the electrode assembly for replacement when degraded.
Claims20
An electrode assembly for use with lipotripters comprising:
- an inner electrode having a proximal and a distal end;
- a receiver located toward the distal end of the inner electrode;
- a first electrode tip in electrical communication with the receiver;
- an insulating layer having a proximal and a distal end defining a length therebetween and a bore extending the length of the insulating layer, said insulating layer detachably connected to the inner electrode with a portion of the first electrode tip extending beyond the distal end of the insulating layer when installed;
- a stop limiting the travel of the bore of the insulating sleeve about the inner conductor in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end of the inner conductor beyond a predetermined position;
- an outer conductor located external to the insulating layer;
- a second electrode tip spaced colinearly with the first electrode tip providing a spark gap therebetween, said second electrode tip in electrical communication with the outer conductor.
An electrode assembly for use in lithotripsy comprising:
- an inner electrode having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a receiver located toward the distal end of the inner electrode;
- a first electrode tip contacting the receiver;
- an insulating layer having a proximal and a distal end and a bore extending intermediate the proximate and the distal end along a longitudinal axis, said insulating layer detachably connected to the inner electrode with a portion of the first electrode tip extending beyond the distal end of the insulating layer when installed;
- a stop limiting the travel of the bore of the insulating sleeve about the inner conductor in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end of the inner conductor beyond a predetermined position;
- an outer conductor secured to an external portion of the insulating layer;
- and
- a second electrode tip spaced oppositely and colinearly relative to the first electrode tip providing a spark gap between the first and second electrode tips, said second electrode tip in electrical communication with the outer conductor.
An electrode assembly for lithotripsy comprising:
- an inner conductor having an exterior surface and a proximal and a distal end with a first electrode tip at the distal end of the inner conductor;
- an insulating layer about a portion of the inner conductor, said insulating layer having a bore therethrough receiving the inner conductor therein;
- a first connector portion formed into the exterior surface of the conductor which cooperates with second connector portion of the insulating layer to retain the insulating layer relative to the inner conductor;
- a grounded second electrode tip colinearly spaced from the first electrode tip;
- a housing having a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis through said housing intermediate a distal opening and a proximal opening;
- a cage extending from a proximal end of the housing;
- an end cap connected to the cage retaining the second electrode therein spaced by a spark gap from the first electrode tip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.