Lithotripter systems

Author

Reichenberger, Helmut

Author_Institution

Siemens AG, Erlangen, West Germany

Volume

76

Issue

9

fYear

1988

fDate

9/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1236

Lastpage

1246

Abstract

Lithotripsy in its various forms has revolutionalized the treatment of kidney and ureter stones. In extracorporeal lithotrips, pulsed acoustic shock waves are generated outside the body and focused via a coupling medium to the concrement. The location of the focus is controlled by fluoroscopy of ultrasound imaging. Starting from simplified models, two methods for generating shock wave pulses are described: (a) point-like supersonic emitters; and (b) two-dimensional emitters of finite amplitude waves. The principles and performance of a spark-gap emitter with a focusing ellipsoid, an electromagnetic acoustic source with a focusing lens, and a spherical concave piezoceramic source are described and discussed. Commercial lithotripter systems and their components for coupling, imaging, patient handling, and triggering are described and their performance is discussed

Keywords

bioacoustics; biomedical equipment; kidney; radiation therapy; shock waves; 2D emitters; electromagnetic acoustic source; extracorporeal lithotrips; finite amplitude waves; focusing ellipsoid; focusing lens; kidney stones; lithotripter systems; medical treatment; point-like supersonic emitters; pulsed acoustic shock waves; shock wave pulse generation; spark-gap emitter; spherical concave piezoceramic source; ureter stones; Acoustic emission; Acoustic imaging; Acoustic pulses; Acoustic waves; Focusing; Lithotripsy; Pulse generation; Shock waves; Spark gaps; Ultrasonic imaging;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Proceedings of the IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9219

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/5.9670

Filename

9670