Lithotrity apparatus having a missed-shot preventive function

Claim 2

A lithotrity apparatus, comprising: a shock-wave source for generating a shock-wave; focusing means to focus the shock-wave at a predetermined position, for focusing and irradiating the shock-wave toward a stone in a body of a patient which is located at the predetermined position, thereby pulverizing the stone; drive means for driving said shock-wave source by a voltage lower than that for generating the shock-wave so as to send a low-pressure wave lower in pressure than the shock-wave to the inside of the body; echo receiving means arranged in front of said shock-wave source, for receiving a low-pressure echo reflected from the body; echo detecting means for detecting the intensity of an echo received by said echo receiving means, reflected by a focal zone of the shock-wave; and control means for comparing the intensity of the echo detected by said echo detecting means with a predetermined value, sending a predetermined signal to said drive means based on the comparison result, switching the drive voltage of said shock-wave source to a high voltage sufficient for lithotrity, and generating a signal for driving said shock-wave source; wherein said echo receiving means comprises a piezoelectric film arranged in front of said shock-wave source, said piezoelectric film comprising: a piezoelectric layer made of a PVDF (Poly-Vinyli-Dene-Fluoride) film; an electrode formed on a first surface of said piezoelectric layer by vapor deposition; and a conductive plate formed on a second surface of said piezoelectric layer so as to be electrically conductive with said electrode; wherein the echo is received and converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is sent to said echo detecting means; said electrode formed on the first surface of said piezoelectric film having a plurality of slits each having a predetermined width.

Claim 3

A lithotrity apparatus, comprising: a shock-wave source for generating a shock-wave; focusing means to focus the shock-wave at a predetermined position, for focusing and irradiation the shock-wave toward a stone in a body of a patient which is located at the predetermined position, thereby pulverizing the stone; drive means for driving said shock-wave source by a voltage lower than that for generating the shock-wave so as to send a low-pressure wave lower in pressure than the shock-wave to the inside of the body; echo receiving means arranged in front of said shock-wave source, for receiving a low-pressure echo reflected from the body; echo detecting means for detecting the intensity of an echo received by said echo receiving means, reflected by a focal zone of the shock-wave; and control means for comparing the intensity of the echo detected by said echo detecting means with a predetermined value, sending a predetermined signal to said drive means based on the comparison result, switching the drive voltage of said shock-wave source to a high voltage sufficient for lithotrity, and generating a signal for driving said shock-wave source; wherein said echo receiving means comprises a piezoelectric film arranged in front of said shock-wave source, said piezoelectric film comprising: a piezoelectric layer made of a PVDF (Poly-Vinyli-Dene-Fluoride) film; an electrode formed on a first surface of said piezoelectric layer by vapor deposition; and a conductive plate formed on a second surface of said piezoelectric layer so as to be electrically conductive with said electrode; wherein the echo is received and converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is sent to said echo detecting means; said electrode formed on the first surface of said piezoelectric film having a plurality of slits each having a predetermined width; and each of said slits is a radial slit extending to a center of the surface of said electrode.

Claim 4

A lithotrity apparatus, comprising: a shock-wave source for generating a shock-wave; focusing means to focus the shock-wave at a predetermined position, for focusing and irradiation the shock-wave toward a stone in a body of a patient which is located at the predetermined position, thereby pulverizing the stone; drive means for driving said shock-wave source by a voltage lower than that for generating the shock-wave so as to send a low-pressure wave lower in pressure than the shock-wave to the inside of the body; echo receiving means arranged in front of said shock-wave source, for receiving a low-pressure echo reflected from the body; echo detecting means for detecting the intensity of an echo received by said echo receiving means, reflected by a focal zone of the shock-wave; and control means for comparing the intensity of the echo detected by said echo detecting means with a predetermined value, sending a predetermined signal to said drive means based on the comparison result, switching the drive voltage of said shock-wave source to a high voltage sufficient for lithotrity, and generating a signal for driving said shock-wave source; wherein said echo receiving means comprises a piezoelectric film arranged in front of said shock-wave source, said piezoelectric film comprising: a piezoelectric layer made of a PVDF (Poly-Vinyli-Dene-Fluoride) film; an electrode formed on a first surface of said piezoelectric layer by vapor deposition; and a conductive plate formed on a second surface of said piezoelectric layer so as to be electrically conductive with said electrode; wherein the echo is received and converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is sent to said echo detecting means; said electrode formed on the first surface of said piezoelectric film having a plurality of slits each having a predetermined width; and each of said slits is a radial slit extending to a center of the surface of said electrode.

Claim 5

A lithotrity apparatus, comprising: a shock-wave source for generating a shock-wave; focusing means to focus the shock-wave at a predetermined position, for focusing and irradiating the shock-wave toward a stone in a body of a patient which is located at the predetermined position, thereby pulverizing the stone; drive means for driving said shock-wave source by a voltage lower than that for generating the shock-wave so as to send a low-pressure wave lower in pressure than the shock-wave to the inside of the body; echo receiving means arranged in front of said shock-wave source, for receiving a low-pressure echo reflected from the body; echo detecting means for detecting the intensity of an echo received by said echo receiving means, reflected by a focal zone of the shock-wave; and control means for comparing the intensity of the echo detected by said echo detecting means with a predetermined value, sending a predetermined signal to said drive means based on the comparison result, switching the drive voltage of said shock-wave source to a high voltage sufficient for lithotrity, and generating a signal for driving said shock-wave source; wherein said echo receiving means comprises a piezoelectric film arranged in front of said shock-wave source, said piezoelectric film comprising: a piezoelectric layer made of a PVDF (Poly-Vinyli-Dene-Fluoride) film; an electrode formed on a first surface of said piezoelectric layer by vapor deposition; and a conductive plate formed on a second surface of said piezoelectric layer so as to be electrically conductive with said electrode; wherein the echo is received and converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is sent to said echo detecting means; said electrode formed on the first surface of said piezoelectric film having a plurality of slits each having a predetermined width; and each of said slits being a parallel slit extending in a predetermined direction and having a predetermined width.

Claim 6

A lithotrity apparatus, comprising: a shock-wave source for generating a shock-wave; focusing means to focus the shock-wave at a predetermined position, for focusing and irradiating the shock-wave toward a stone in a body of a patient which is located at the predetermined position, thereby pulverizing the stone; drive means for driving said shock-wave source by a voltage lower than that for generating the shock-wave so as to send a low-pressure wave lower in pressure than the shock-wave to the inside of the body; echo receiving means arranged in front of said shock-wave source, for receiving a low-pressure echo reflected from the body; echo detecting means for detecting the intensity of an echo received by said echo receiving means, reflected by a focal zone of the shock-wave; and control means for comparing the intensity of the echo detected by said echo detecting means with a predetermined value, sending a predetermined signal to said drive means based on the comparison result, switching the drive voltage of said shock-wave source to a high voltage sufficient for lithotrity, and generating a signal for driving said shock-wave source; wherein said echo receiving means comprises a piezoelectric film arranged in front of said shock-wave source, said piezoelectric film comprising: a piezoelectric layer made of a PVDF (Poly-Vinyli-Dene-Fluoride) film; an electrode formed on a first surface of said piezoelectric layer by vapor deposition; and a conductive plate formed on a second surface of said piezoelectric layer so as to be electrically conductive with said electrode; wherein the echo is received and converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is sent to said echo detecting means; said electrode formed on the first surface of said piezoelectric film having a plurality of slits each having a predetermined width; and each of said slits being a parallel slit extending in a predetermined direction and having a predetermined width.