The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 18, 1989
Filed:
Sep. 09, 1986
Robert A Makofski, Catonsville, MD (US);
Joe T Massey, Bethesda, MD (US);
F Fausten Mark, Silver Spring, MD (US);
Francis B Weiskopf, Jr, Catonsville, MD (US);
William H Guier, Pasadena, MD (US);
Patrick C Walsh, Hunt Valley, MD (US);
Fray F Marshall, Ruxton, MD (US);
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for noninvasive fragmentation of body concretions. The apparatus has an integral unit including an ultrasonic locating transducer a relative position determining device, a shockwave generating device and a positioning structure. The method for locating a body concretion includes the steps of locating the body concretion with ultrasonics, the position of the shockwave generating device relative to the concretion, accurately positioning the shockwave generating device at the location of the concretion and then shattering the concretion by generating a shockwave. The shockwave generating device includes a reflector with first and second foci, a location verifying ultrasonic transducer which is positioned so that an axis of the verifying transducer is coincident with a straight line passing through the first and second foci and a spark gap at the first focus which generates the shockwave.