METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FRAGMENTING A SUBSTANCE BY THE DISCHARGE OF PULSED ELECTRICAL ENERGY

摘要

-16-ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA method and apparatus for fragmenting a substanceby discharging pulsed electrical energy through the substanceis disclosed wherein electrodes are placed in contact with thesubstance and a series of measuring pulses are discharged intothe substance to determine the characteristic pulse and thecharacteristic impedance of the substance. Based upon the seriesof measuring pulses at least one fragmenting pulse is dischargedinto the substance through the electrodes to cause thesubstance to fragment.