Importance

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Abstract

An instrument for extracting stones from the urinary tract of a patient comprising a urological catheter (12) and a stone-extracting basket (26) formed from resilient wires and slidingly inserted into catheter (12). The instrument has a drive unit (18) which is connected to the basket via a rod (22). Drive unit (18) transmits to the rod rotation and axial vibrations, which in turn are transmitted to the basket. When rod (22) rotates, curved portion (21) generates radial vibrations which are transmitted to the basket. In order to prevent basket (26) from rotating, but to transmit to it only axial and radial vibrations, rod (24) is connected to basket (26) through a spherical joint (42). On its front end the basket has a filiform (38) which facilitates insertion of the instrument into the urinary tract. In use, after insertion of the catheter to a position in which the basket is aligned with the location of the stone, the basket is released from the catheter and expands. The urologist maneuvers the basket so that the stone is caught inside the basket, and then the basket is pulled back into the catheter to prevent the stone from falling out of the basket. To facilitate extraction, the drive unit is then energized, imparting axial and radial vibrations to the basket, which under these conditions is gradually withdrawn from the patient's body together with the stone caught into the basket.

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First Claim