| 摘要 |
<p>A calculus destroying apparatus includes piezoelectric elements (2) constituted by arranging a plurality of piezoelectric elements (2a, 2b) to have a predetermined shape, thereby constituting a shock wave generating source, a first driver (7a, 7b, 10) for driving the piezoelectric elements (2) by a high voltage pulse so that a shock wave for calculus destruction having a predetermined focal point pressure distribution is generated from the piezoelectric elements (2), a second driver (7a, 7b, 11) for driving at least some of the piezoelectric elements (2) by a low voltage pulse so that a low pressure ultrasonic wave having a lower pressure and a wider focal point pressure distribution than those of the shock wave is generated from the piezoelectric elements (2), a receiver (12) for receiving an echo of the low pressure ultrasonic wave from inside a patient's body via the piezoelectric elements (2), and a controller (8, 9, 13) for activating the second driver (7a, 7b, 11) prior to activation of the first driver (7a, 7b, 10), and activating the first driver (7a, 7b, 10) when the intensity of the echo received by the receiver (12) exceeds a predetermined threshold value.</p> |
