Method of manufacturing an electrohydraulic probe

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG.
1 there is shown a diagrammatical view of the bladder 2, ureter 4 and kidney 6 areas of a patient having a lithotriptoscope 8 moving therein.
Although the following description is being given with reference to a lithotriptoscope, it is to be understood that the present invention can be used with any suitable type of instrument.
The lithotriptoscope 8 is generally provided for accessing the ureter area of a patient for the destruction of vesical calculus 7.
The lithotriptoscope, in this embodiment, has a probe 10 which uses electrohydraulics to impact the calculus 7 and for this purpose has a voltage source or generator 9 connected thereto.
The probe 10, in this embodiment, passes through a working channel (not shown) of the lithotriptoscope 8 and has a distal working end 14 (See FIG.
2) that is extendable from an aperture (not shown) at the distal end of the lithotriptoscope 8.
Referring now also to FIG.
2, a cross-sectional view of the probe 10 incorporating features of the invention is shown.
The probe 10, in this embodiment, is connectable to the voltage source 9 via a coaxially connector in a body section 12 of the probe 10.
In an alternative embodiment, the probe 10 may be integrally formed with the lithotriptoscope.
The probe 10, in this embodiment, generally comprises a body section 12, a shaft section 13 and a distal end 14.
The shaft section 13, in this embodiment, generally comprises two conductors comprised of an outer sheath 28 and an inner wire 38.
The outer sheath 28 is generally concentrically disposed relative to the inner wire 38.
Located between the two conductors 28 and 38 are a cover 48 of dielectric material and a stiffener 49 made of any suitable material.
The stiffener 49 provides a stiffness to the shaft section 13.
An exterior coating 50 is provided around the sheath 28 to protectively insulate the sheath 28 as well as the patient.
The inner conductor 38 may be made of any suitable material such as copper and is preferably provided as a solid wire