Importance

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Abstract

A kidney stone disintegrating system includes a computer-controlled aiming system. The disintegrating system includes a reflector containing water through which the reflector is coupled to a living body having a kidney stone. The reflector is a portion of an ellipsoid and a spark gap generator is located at one focus of the ellipsoid. An electrical energy source is connected to the spark gap generator for generating a spark which in turn generates a shock wave in the fluid. Three motors are connected to the reflector for moving it in respectively X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions to locate the reflector so that the kidney stone lies at the second focus point thereof. A pair of ultrasound transducers are carried by an articulated support comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms. Precision potentiometers are provided between the arms to indicate the relative positions thereof, and electrical potentials from the potentiometers are connected to a computer. The signals and the computer are connected to a monitor having a screen to display the kidney stone, and particularly the position thereof as determined by the two transducers. The computer is connected to the three motors to position the reflector in accordance with the positions of the transducers to locate the reflector with the second focus point coinciding with the kidney stone. Controls are provided for causing generation of a spark with the resulting shock wave focused on the kidney stone to destroy the kidney stone.

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First Claim