| 摘要 |
Method and apparatus for fracturing hard deposits (20, 110, 122) such as urinary and biliary stones and atherosclerotic plaque in the human body. A flexible guide (10, 40, 60, 84, 100) having a hard mass (12, 42, 64, 86, 104, 120) capping an end is adapted for insertion through a fluid passage in a living body. An energy source (22, 52, 74, 80) creates a rapid vapor expansion adjacent to the cap (12, 42, 64, 86, 104, 120) causing it to undergo a pulse like movement, imparting a high-velocity impulse to an adjacent deposit (30, 110, 122), thereby fracturing it. The energy source (22, 52, 74, 80) may be a laser (22) with a fiber optic (14) delivery system in the guide (10) terminating adjacent to the cap (12) to cause vaporization of the mass cap (12) to create the vapor expansion. The energy source (22, 52, 74, 80) may be a spark generator (52, 74, 80) with a conductor (46, 66, 82) associated with the guide (40, 60, 84, 100) to deliver a fluid vaporizing spark (126) adjacent to the mass cap (42, 64, 86, 104, 120). Other forms of rapid energy delivery such as chemical detonations or ballistic impact may also be applicable. |
