Experimental Evaluation of a New Electromagnetic Shock Wave Source

Clinical application of new shock wave sources always warrants prior experimental evaluation of the stone disintegration capabilities and characterization of the shock wave impulses. The least possible tissue traumatization is necessary for successful clinical introduction. After the spark-gap generation of shock waves with semi-ellipsoid focussing had been introduced to the urological armamentarium for extracorporeal destruction of renal and ureteral stones in 1980 (Chaussy 1982), new modes of shock wave generation have been developed. In cooperation with the Siemens Company of Erlangen, Germany, a new electromagnetic shock wave source was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo animal experimen…