Richard Wolf Gmbh

Other

Werner Krauss

Helmut Wurster

Thomas Belikan

Edgar Bauer

Peter Jaggy

Joachim Fladl

Dagobert Schafer

Hermann Benkhoff

Ulrich Bolg

Michael Meyer

Jan Zwingenberger

Peter Vallon

Dietmar Stettner

The invention relates to the use of a gel mass based on reaction products of polyols and polyisocyanates, wherein the polyol component consists of one or more polyols with hydroxyl numbers below 112 and where appropriate other polyols and additives known from polyol chemistry, the isocyanate number of the reaction mixture lies in the range of 15 to 59.81 and the product of the isocyanate functionality and the functionality of the polyol components is at least 6.15, as a coupling medium for transmitting acoustic waves from a sound source onto the body of the patient.

Method for transmitting acoustic waves

An acoustic therapy device is provided including a housing, an electro-acoustic transducer, a coupling element and coupling cushions. The electro-acoustic transducer is arranged in the housing which includes a shell. The coupling element has a coupling surface flush with edges of the shell. Another coupling surface of the coupling element is on the sound irradiation surface of the transducer and sound waves from the sound irradiation surface are directly coupled into the coupling element. An elastic coupling cushion is connected to a surface of the coupling element. One coupling surface of the coupling element and an exterior coupling surface of the coupling cushion define a sound advance path the length of which may, along with a penetration depth of the sound waves, be varied.

Acoustic therapy apparatus

The electroacoustic transucer comprises a dome-shaped carrier on whose inner side are mounted piezoelctric elements and which furthermore is also provided with piezoelectric elements on its outer side. The piezoelectric elements on the inner and on the outer side are switched in separate groups and can be triggered such that the sound waves produced by them can be synchronized, by which means the power intensity in the focus can be increased.

Electroacoustic transducer

A device, which is especially made for the generation of shockwaves to detect inner-body objects, is equipped with piezo-ceramic transducer elements which act as an electro-acoustical transducer which can be driven by a high-voltage source with high-voltage impulses to generate shock waves or sound impulses through directed deformations and length changes of the transducer elements is dependent on the given polarization of the transducer elements and the polarity of the high-voltage impulses. The sound energy emitted by the device may then be especially high if the transducer elements are excited and biased with a bias potential before the appearance of a high-voltage impulse and the polarity of the bias potential is opposite to that of the high-voltage impulse.

Device for generating sound impulses for medical applications

The extracorporeal treatment apparatus has an electroacoustic transducer for producing focused sound waves and a patient support which can be moved with respect to the transducer for the purpose of positioning a patient. The transducer is arranged pivotably about its focus with respect to the patient support. The treatment apparatus is provided to connect an external X-ray location device essentially comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray image-receiver and a support frame connecting these components. Mechanical coupling between the X-ray location device and the transducer of the treatment apparatus takes place such that the X-ray location devices may follow the pivoting movements of the transducer.

Extracorporeal treatment apparatus

The therapy apparatus described for treating concretions and tissue in the body of a patient by means of sound waves comprises a sound wave generator and an available X-ray device for locating an object for therapy, wherein the therapy apparatus has a spot film device. The spot film device is arranged within the axial passage of an X-ray cone for the available X-ray device attached to the sound wave generator and with its central longitudinal axis aligned with the focus thereof to be able to precisely adjust and fix a known X-ray device available to the therapy apparatus relative to the therapy apparatus quickly and safely.

Extracorporeal therapy apparatus

An apparatus for shock wave treatment includes a shock wave transducer with a cup-shaped body and with an X-ray location finding device for finding the location of a bodily concretion or tissue to be treated. The X-ray device includes an extensible X-ray tube with telescoping tube sections which are sealed against an acoustic coupling medium filling the delay path of the transducer by a balloon arranged within the X-ray tube. The balloon is secured to the upper section of the tube and to the lower section thereof. Overpressure or underpressure is applied to the interior of the X-ray tube to adjust its length in order to optimise X-ray location finding on the one hand, and shock wave treatment on the other hand.

Apparatus for shock wave treatment

A lithotripsy ultrasound locating device comprises at least one locating transducer having a plurality of focal ranges and which is associated with a therapy transducer and is axially adjustable in relation to its focus; a position indicator which generates a signal representing the distance between the sound head of the locating transducer and the focus of the therapy transducer; a computer; a monitor on which a target mark representing the focus of the therapy transducer is displayed; and an electronic transmitter/receiver arrangement controlled by the computer in order to produce an image of a concretion to be destroyed which image is constantly optimal. The computer, controls, as a function of the signal emitted by the position indicator and by way of the transmitter/receiver arrangement, the focal range of the locating transducer which, at the given distance at that moment between the sound head and the focus of the therapy transducer always lies in the range thereof. The computer further generates a signal following up the target mark on the monitor according to the signal emitted by the position indicator. The following-up signal is passed to the monitor so that, where applicable, in each axial position of the locating transducer, the image of the concretion displayed by the monitor lies in the target mark.

Lithotripsy ultrasound locating device

The focus of a lithotriptor comprising a transducer for generating focused ultrasonic shock waves is adapted for alignment on a concretion or tissue to be destroyed. The transducer is connected to an image-forming diagnostic X-ray system for locating the concretion or tissue, and comprising an X-ray emitter and an image intensifier disposed on a pivotable frame. The transducer is connected to the X-ray emitter, and the X-ray emitter is disposed at the center of the transducer, so that the emission axes of the transducer and the X-ray emitter coincide.

Lithotriptor with X-ray alignment system

Apparatus for shock wave therapy comprises an electroacoustic therapeutic transducer for generating ultrasonic shock waves, which are transmitted by way of a coupling medium shock wave transmission section of the transducer, bounded by a membrane, to the body of a patient reclining on a therapy table. In the interest of hygiene the membrane is releasably attached by its marginal area to the therapy table, being thereby exchangeable so that a new membrane can be provided for each patient. The extraction of gas from the coupling medium following exchange of the membrane is provided for.

Apparatus for shock wave therapy

There is disclosed, a piezoelectric transducer for generating focussed ultrasonic shock waves for use in lithotripsy. The ultrasonic shock waves are emitted in pulsed form and can be transmitted by way of a coupling medium to the body of a patient to be treated. The transducer comprises a substantial member of individual piezoelectric transducer elements of ceramic or like material which are connected to the poles of a pulse generator and are fixed to a support in mosaic form and with their sides electrically insulated from one another. The acoustic termination of the transducer elements is essentially free from reflection. An intermediate medium of at least one layer, the acoustic impedance of which lies between that of the ceramic of the transducer element and that of the coupling medium, is provided between the transducer elements and the coupling medium. The thickness d of the layer is chosen in accordance with the relationship d&gt;.tau..sub.k .multidot.c.sub.LA, where .tau..sub.k is the propagation time of sound in the piezoceramic of the transducer elements and c.sub.LA is the sound velocity in the intermediate medium.

Piezoelectric transducer

A device for locating and disintegrating concretions and stones in bodily cavities by means of a shock wave generator comprises a reclining surface for the patient, with an opening therein below which the generator, including a flexible precursor section, is so arranged that the fluid sealed off from the outside is in contact via the opening with the body section to be treated, either directly or indirectly via a diaphragm sealing off the precursor section. To this end, the reclining surface and the shock wave generator are displaceable with respect to each other.

Device for locating and disintegrating concretions in bodily cavities

A diagnostic coupler is provided for transmitting ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic locating transducer to a patient body, particularly for use in a lithotriptic apparatus having an ultrasonic shock wave transducer and at least one ultrasonic locating transducer. The coupler is a dimensionally stable body which is releasably arranged on the ultrasonic locating transducer by fitting to the shape of the ultrasound emitting end of the transducer. The material of the coupler has a characteritic wave impedance which is substantially the same as that of the patient body tissue.

Ultrasonic wave coupler for locating transducer in a lithotriptic

A lithotripter comprises a transducer for generating focussed ultrasonic shock waves, and having an axis, a focus on said axis, the focus being positionable on a concretion or tissue which is to be destroyed, at least one diagnostic X-ray imaging system for locating the concretion of tissue including an X-ray emitter having an axis and an image intensifier, and at least one ultrasonic locating transducer having an axis, the X-ray emitter and the ultrasonic locating transducer being connected to the shock wave transducer in such a way that the axes of the locating systems intersect at said focus, with the axes of the locating systems preferably being offset from the axis of the shock wave transducer.

Lithotripter with X-ray and ultrasound location systems

In a lithotriptor a shock wave transducer is provided with a focussing cup and with a forward section containing a coupling medium shut off by means of a diaphragm for application to a patient's body. In the wall of the cup there is mounted a locating system comprising an x-ray emitter the outlet of which is located in the coupling medium. The outlet is closed by means of a balloon which can be filled with gas and which can be evacuated. When the balloon is filled with gas, it expands in the direction of radiation of the x-rays up to or almost up to the diaphragm of the forward section.

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Knittlingen, Germany

Werner Krauss