Bantum Tripter Joint Venture Partners

Bantum Tripter Joint Venture

Bl Technologies, Inc.

Dianne L Vickers

A Glen Brisson

Exequiel D Cruz

Exequiel Dela Cruz

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.

Water system for lithotripter

An extracorporeal lithotripter has an ultrasound transducer mounted within the lithotripter reflector. The reflector and transducer are oriented downwardly, and a housing surrounds the transducer to protect the transducer from shockwaves generated within the reflector at the first focus point thereof. The housing opens downwardly, and a sleeve encircles the lower portion of the housing and extends below the housing. A conduit is connected to the sleeve to provide pressure less than atmospheric in said sleeve to effect filling of said sleeve with water for operation of the ultrasound transducer. The conduit alternatively and selectively effects filling of the sleeve with gas to protect against reflected shockwaves from below that might otherwise damage the transducer.

Reflected shockwave shielding device

An extracorporeal lithotripter has a base mounted on wheels for movement about a floor or the like. There is an upright extensible support on the base caring a horizontal extensible support. The horizontal support has a swivel at its outer end with a pair of diverging arms pivotably carrying a truncated ellipsoidal reflector having an otherwise open end closed by a flexible membrane. A spark gap is disposed at the first focal point of the reflector. The second focal point is beyond the membrane and is to be placed on a kidney stone or the like to be disintegrated. Parts are manually movable, and an electric screw jack controls extension of the upright support. The movable parts are all locked by electric brakes except when a pushbutton switch is pushed and held to unlock the brakes for movement of the movable parts. The lithotripter is remarkably simple, rugged and inexpensive.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripter

An extracorporeal lithotripter is provided with an ultrasound transducer on the rotational center line of the reflector and substantially at the open end of the reflector. The transducer is protected against shockwaves by a metallic housing in which it is mounted. The transducer at one end engages the housing through a resilient plastic disk, and is spaced laterally from the housing by a rubber O-ring adjacent the open end of the housing. The housing directly shields or shadows the transducer so that shockwaves are not transmitted to the transducer, which could damage the transducer and shorten its life.

Ultrasound transducer shielding

A lithotripter reflector is disclosed which has an ultrasound transducer mounted at the open end of the reflector and on the axis of rotation. The transducer is supported in a brass socket, and a pair of oppositely directed arms are aligned with one another and extend in opposite directions from the housing. The outer ends of the arms are provided with steel blocks which are ground to precision size. The blocks are received in carefully milled sockets in said reflector so that insertion of the blocks in the sockets accurately positions the housing and hence the transducer.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, IL, United States of America

Dianne L Vickers