Lithotripter with Improved Sterilization Time

摘要

An apparatus and method are presented for a lithotripter comprising a handle, a driver resource contained within the handle, a probe housed within the handle, an extension which may be the probe, a shielding insert, or a removable passageway which extends through a central lumen of the driver resource and protects the central lumen from surgical debris when in use and as a result reduces time required to perform sterilization. Sealing means may be provided to connect the probe into the handle, including a ferrule, collet, split collet, screw connection, O-rings, or a combination thereof to further limit debris entering the central lumen of the handle. It is contemplated that the device of the present invention is capable of achieving a four minute flash cycle validation.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a lithotripter, comprising:
a handle, the handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;a driver resource contained within the handle; anda probe housed within the handle, the probe having a probe distal end and a probe proximal end, the probe distal end terminating at the distal end of the apparatus at a point distal from the handle distal end, the probe proximal end terminating proximal to the proximal end of the driver resource; wherein the probe proximal end is contained within the handle; wherein the driver resource causes the probe to move in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the probe.