EXTRACORPOREAL CALCULUS CRUSHING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACING AND POSITIONING CALCULUS THEREBY

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an extracorporeal calculus crushing apparatus for effectively crushing a splanchnolith such as a nephrolith by converging impact waves on the calculus as focusing a lens, utilizing the principle of focus convergence, and a method of tracing/positioning the calculus appropriately applied to the apparatus. SOLUTION: The extracorporeal calculus crushing apparatus comprises an X-ray device 1, an ultrasonic scanner, and a moving platform 3. The region of the calculus is confirmed by the irradiation by the X-ray device disposed on a device pedestal in the range of a solid angle from 0 to 30 degrees, the result of scanning by the ultrasonic scanner is displayed on a monitor 4, and a vibration cop 5 aimes at the position of the calculus to crush the calculus. The method of the calculus tracing and positioning system applied in the crushing apparatus comprises a step of setting an initial value, a step of grubbing of a shade image, a step of detecting the calculus, a step of frame-matching of the shade image, and a step of positioning the calculus, etc. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI