Pressure wave generator for diagnosis and therapy - has spark gap in inflatable balloon at end of catheter

摘要

The pressure wave generator employs a spark gap at the end of a catheter which may be introduced into the oesophagus of a reclining patient to stimulate the heart or into the urinary tract in order to break up kidney stones. At the front end of a catheter (12) is an inflatable balloon (18) which contains a spark gap (16). Fluid from a reservoir (14) is circulated by a pump (28) to inflate the balloon when in situ and to remove gases from the spark gap.