A device to perform SWL, composed of a shock wave generator, a focusing unit, an imaging system, a coupling device, and a patient treatment table.
Published in Chapter:
Innovative Piezoelectric Extracorporeal Lithotripter
Achim M. Loske (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico), Francisco Fernández (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico), and Gilberto Fernández (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico)
Copyright: © 2008
|Pages: 9
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-889-5.ch094
Abstract
Before 1980, the majority of patients with urolithiasis and nephrolithiasis needed surgery (Kerbl, Rehman, Landman, Lee, Sundaram, & Clayman, 2002; Soucie et al., 1994). Fortunately, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, ureteroscopic intrarenal surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) now allow almost any calculus to be removed without open surgery. SWL refers to the use of high intensity pressure pulses, generated outside the body, to break up kidney stones (Chaussy, Brendel, & Schmiedt, 1980; Loske, 2007). It has become the standard treatment for the majority of patients and an alternative in the management of gallbladder stones, pancreatic concrements, and salivary gland stones. Even though initial studies concluded that shock waves had no damaging effect on renal tissue, later several authors reported that shock waves may cause tissue trauma (Evan, Willis, Connors, McAteer, & Lingeman, 1991; Evan, Willis, & Lingeman, 2003 Willis et al., 1999). Fortunately, techniques and devices are still evolving and improvements to increase stone fragmentation efficiency and reduce tissue trauma are being constantly sought.