(19)
(11) EP 1 701 659 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication:
20.09.2006 Bulletin 2006/38

(21) Application number: 03818331.5

(22) Date of filing: 14.08.2003
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61B 17/22(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/US2003/025305
(87) International publication number:
WO 2005/018469 (03.03.2005 Gazette 2005/09)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE

(71) Applicant: Duke University
Durham, NC 27708 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • ZHONG, Pei
    Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (US)
  • XI, Xufeng
    Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (US)
  • COCKS, Franklin, H.
    Durham, NC 27710 (US)
  • PREMINGER, Glenn, M.
    Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (US)

(74) Representative: Barth, Stephan Manuel 
Reinhard-Skuhra-Weise & Partner GbR, Patentanwälte Friedrichstrasse 31
80801 München
80801 München (DE)

   


(54) APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY (SWL) USING A PIEZOELECTRIC ANNULAR ARRAY (PEAA) SHOCK-WAVE GENERATOR IN COMBINATION WITH A PRIMARY SHOCK WAVE