Apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of objects within the body of a mammal

Claim 1

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object present within the body of a mammal, said apparatus comprising: a wave generator generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object and directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target-focus zone and including a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein said displacing means comprises means for rotating said image forming means within said displacement plane around said target-focus zone, wherein said means for rotating comprise an arcuate member connected to said wave generator and having as a geometrical center said target-focus zone, and a movable member connected to said image forming means and mounted for movement on said arcuate member.

Claim 2

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object present within the body of a mammal, said apparatus comprising: a wave generator generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object and directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target-focus zone and including a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein said displacing means comprises means for rotating said image forming means within said displacement plane around said target-focus zone, wherein said means for rotating comprise an arcuate member connected to said wave generator and having as a geometrical center said target-focus zone, and a movable member connected to said image forming means and mounted for movement on said arcuate member.

Claim 8

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object present within the body of a mammal, said apparatus comprising: a wave generator generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object and directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target-focus zone and including a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein said displacing means further comprises means for displacing said image forming means from one peripheral point on said wave generator to another peripheral point thereon.

Claim 9

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object present within the body of a mammal, said apparatus comprising: a wave generator generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object and directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target-focus zone and including a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein said displacing means further comprises means for displacing said image forming means from one peripheral point on said wave generator to another peripheral point thereon.

Claim 10

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of a concretion in a cavity of a mammal for destruction of said concretion into fragments that can be evacuated by natural passages, said apparatus comprising: a pressure wave generator generating pressure waves directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said concretion; image forming means for forming a real-time image of said concretion for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said pressure wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator containing said target-focus zone and containing a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein said connecting means further comprise second means mounted to said generator for displacing said image forming means from one peripheral point on said generator to another peripheral point on said generator.

Claim 11

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of a concretion in a cavity of a mammal for destruction of said concretion into fragments that can be evacuated by natural passages, said apparatus comprising: a pressure wave generator generating pressure waves directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said concretion; image forming means for forming a real-time image of said concretion for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said pressure wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator containing said target-focus zone and containing a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein said connecting means further comprise second means mounted to said generator for displacing said image forming means from one peripheral point on said generator to another peripheral point on said generator.

Claim 15

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object within the body of a mammal for treatment of said object, said apparatus comprising: a wave generator generating waves directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means mounted on said generator for displacing said image forming means from one peripheral point on said generator to another peripheral point on said generator, said displacing means comprising a rail type coupling system including a rail portion fixed to said generator and a displaceable portion movably mounted relative to said fixed rail portion, said image forming means being linked to said displaceable portion.

Claim 16

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object within the body of a mammal for treatment of said object, said apparatus comprising: a wave generator generating waves directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means mounted on said generator for displacing said image forming means from one peripheral point on said generator to another peripheral point on said generator, said displacing means comprising a rail type coupling system including a rail portion fixed to said generator and a displaceable portion movably mounted relative to said fixed rail portion, said image forming means being linked to said displaceable portion.

Claim 18

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object within the body of a mammal to perform treatment of said object, comprising a wave generator generating waves directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object, image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter, and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means comprising means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target-focus zone and a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said displacing means comprising displacement measuring means for measuring the distance of displacement of the displacing means, whereby said image forming means is movable in displacement relative to said target-focus zone and the displacement distance may be determined.

Claim 19

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object within the body of a mammal to perform treatment of said object, comprising a wave generator generating waves directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object, image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter, and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means comprising means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target-focus zone and a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said displacing means comprising displacement measuring means for measuring the distance of displacement of the displacing means, whereby said image forming means is movable in displacement relative to said target-focus zone and the displacement distance may be determined.

Claim 20

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object present within the body of a mammal, said apparatus comprising; a wave generator generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object and directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target focus zone and including a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein said displacing means comprises means for rotating said image forming means within said displacement plane around said target-focus zone, wherein said displacing means further comprises means for displacing said image forming means from one peripheral point on said wave generator to another peripheral point thereon.

Claim 21

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object present within the body of a mammal, said apparatus comprising; a wave generator generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object and directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target focus zone and including a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein said displacing means comprises means for rotating said image forming means within said displacement plane around said target-focus zone, wherein said displacing means further comprises means for displacing said image forming means from one peripheral point on said wave generator to another peripheral point thereon.

Claim 22

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object present within the body of a mammal, said apparatus comprising: a wave generator defining a longitudinal axis for generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object and directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target-focus zone and including a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein, in its usual working position, the longitudinal axis of said image forming means subtends an angle of approximately 45° with respect to said longitudinal axis of said wave generator.

Claim 23

An apparatus for real-time tracking and imaging of an object present within the body of a mammal, said apparatus comprising: a wave generator defining a longitudinal axis for generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object and directed towards a target-focus zone put into coincidence with said object; image forming means forming a real-time image of said object for real-time observation of the latter; and means for connecting said image forming means with said wave generator, said connecting means including means for displacing said image forming means in a displacement plane coinciding with a symmetry plane of said generator including said target-focus zone and including a longitudinal axis of said image forming means, said image forming means being coupled to said displacing means whereby said image forming means is movable in said displacement plane relative to said target-focus zone, wherein, in its usual working position, the longitudinal axis of said image forming means subtends an angle of approximately 45° with respect to said longitudinal axis of said wave generator.