Abstract: Improving cell therapy and tissue regeneration in a patient suffering from a cardiovascular or a neurological disease by treating a tissue of the patient with shock waves and/or applying to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of stem cells and/or progenitor cells. Such treatment increases expression of chemoattractants, pro-angiogenic factors, and pro-survival factors. The chemoattractants can be, for example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1). For example, the treated tissue can be located in the patient's heart or in a skeletal muscle of the patient, and the shock waves can be extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) or intracorporeal shock waves. The cardiovascular disease can have an ischemic or non-ischemic etiology. For example, the cardiovascular disease can be a myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, or a dilatative cardiomyopathy. For example, the neurological disease can be a peripheral neuropathy or neuropathic pain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock wave therapy device with a shock wave source for the emission of a shock wave and an ultrasound unit for obtaining image information by means of the emission and reception of ultrasound, whereby the ultrasound unit is provided for the reception of reflected or scattered components of the shock wave for obtaining image information. In addition, the invention relates to a method for obtaining image information for shock wave therapy with the steps: a) emitting ultrasound using an ultrasound unit, b) receiving the reflections of the emitted ultrasound using the ultrasound unit for obtaining image information, c) emitting a shock wave using a shock wave source and d) receiving reflected or scattered components of the shock wave using the ultrasound unit for obtaining image information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a treating apparatus which can be used with a radiation source and which can particularly be employed in lithotripsy, a shockwave source being provided which generates shockwaves and with which shockwaves can be sent to an object to be treated, and a radiation locating device being also provided which is integrated into the shockwave source. To provide a treating apparatus of this type which despite the use with a radiation source permits a high image quality and accurate focusing of the shockwaves in a way which is as easy as possible, the radiation locating device comprises a radiation receiving unit which is configured as a solid-state detector. The solid-state detector can include both radiation locating units and ultrasonic locating units.

Abstract: A system and method for a lithotripter is provided. The system can include a shockwave generator and an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving unit, which are in communication with an evaluating unit. The transmitting/receiving unit can include an ultrasonic transducer that emits ultrasonic pulses and receives ultrasonic waves reflected from a target area of the shockwave generator. The evaluating unit can determine a correlation coefficient of the time correlation between the ultrasonic waves and the ultrasonic pulses and provide a signal related to the coefficient. The method can include emitting ultrasonic pulses from the transducer into a body, receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected from a target object in the body, evaluating the received ultrasonic waves with the evaluating unit to determine the correlation coefficient, and providing a signal related to the correlation coefficient.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the air-kerma rate of an x-ray device comprises a data obtaining component for obtaining data of the x-ray device, a calculation component for calculating the air-kerma rate from the obtained data, and an outputting component for outputting the calculated air-kerma rate, where the calculation component uses an algebraic formula for the calculation of the air-kerma rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the air-kerma rate of an x-ray device comprises a data obtaining component for obtaining data of the x-ray device, a calculation component for calculating the air-kerma rate from the obtained data, and an outputting component for outputting the calculated air-kerma rate, where the calculation component uses an algebraic formula for the calculation of the air-kerma rate.

Abstract: Improving cell therapy and tissue regeneration in a patient suffering from a cardiovascular or a neurological disease by treating a tissue of the patient with shock waves and/or applying to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of stem cells and/or progenitor cells. Such treatment increases expression of chemoattractants, pro-angiogenic factors, and pro-survival factors. The chemoattractants can be, for example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1). For example, the treated tissue can be located in the patient's heart or in a skeletal muscle of the patient, and the shock waves can be extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) or intracorporeal shock waves. The cardiovascular disease can have an ischemic or non-ischemic etiology. For example, the cardiovascular disease can be a myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, or a dilatative cardiomyopathy. For example, the neurological disease can be a peripheral neuropathy or neuropathic pain.

Abstract: A method and a apparatus for transferring medically effective substances in the form of molecules, such as DNA, oligos, certain chemicals, etc., into the living cells of humans, animals and/or plants using acoustic energy or through cavitation which is produced by acoustic energy in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. Via suitable sensors, the lifetime of the cavitation bubbles is determined or specified, which then for its part acts as the criterion or the function for controlling the acoustic intensity and thus also the cavitation intensity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock wave therapy device with a shock wave source for the emission of a shock wave and an ultrasound unit for obtaining image information by means of the emission and reception of ultrasound, whereby the ultrasound unit is provided for the reception of reflected or scattered components of the shock wave for obtaining image information. In addition, the invention relates to a method for obtaining image information for shock wave therapy with the steps: a) emitting ultrasound using an ultrasound unit, b) receiving the reflections of the emitted ultrasound using the ultrasound unit for obtaining image information, c) emitting a shock wave using a shock wave source and d) receiving reflected or scattered components of the shock wave using the ultrasound unit for obtaining image information.

Abstract: Improving cell therapy and tissue regeneration in a patient suffering from a cardiovascular or a neurological disease by treating a tissue of the patient with shock waves and/or applying to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of stem cells and/or progenitor cells. Such treatment increases expression of chemoattractants, pro-angiogenic factors, and pro-survival factors. The chemoattractants can be, for example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1). For example, the treated tissue can be located in the patient's heart or in a skeletal muscle of the patient, and the shock waves can be extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) or intracorporeal shock waves. The cardiovascular disease can have an ischemic or non-ischemic etiology. For example, the cardiovascular disease can be a myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, or a dilatative cardiomyopathy. For example, the neurological disease can be a peripheral neuropathy or neuropathic pain.

Abstract: A urological working place is provided that can include a U-bow with an x-ray source arranged at one end and an image processing device arranged at the other end, wherein the image processing device cooperates with the x-ray source. An examination table is releasably secured to the U-bow and replaceable by an alternate examination table that is independent of the movements of the U-bow. The x-ray source and the image processing device are displaceable relative to the U-bow individually and synchronously in a transverse direction, and the U-bow is supported in a lower area thereof so that it is tiltable in the longitudinal direction of the examination table.

Abstract: A urological working place is provided that can include a U-bow with an x-ray source arranged at one end and an image processing device arranged at the other end, wherein the image processing device cooperates with the x-ray source. An examination table is releasably secured to the U-bow and replaceable by an alternate examination table that is independent of the movements of the U-bow. The x-ray source and the image processing device are displaceable relative to the U-bow individually and synchronously in a transverse direction, and the U-bow is supported in a lower area thereof so that it is tiltable in the longitudinal direction of the examination table.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for the ultrasonic inoculation of biological cell material. The method and device can be implemented by transmitting ultrasonic energy via a device, that includes an ultrasonic transducer and suitably formed glass fibres coupled thereto, into the immediate vicinity of the cells to be inoculated in a fluid containing the inoculation medium or a tissue aggregation. A simple method for low-cost inoculation of individual cells or cell aggregations with biological molecules and/or with pharmaceutical particles is thereby provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lithotriptor carriage comprising a moving device. For rendering the lithotriptors accessible to a possibly large field of application, a lithotriptor carriage comprising a moving device and an accommodating bed connected therewith, on which a lithotriptor can be mounted and detachably arrested on the carriage by means of an arresting device, is provided, wherein the lithotriptor is ready to be used in the mounted state.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a shockwave source to the body of a patient is provided. The apparatus may include a coupling bellows that is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The coupling bellows may include a coupling portion that is configured to provide a coupling surface relative to the body of a patient and is transmissive to shockwaves. The coupling bellows may also include an outer portion that is sound-insulating.

Abstract: A device for the testing and monitoring of the function of a shock wave or pressure wave source is provided. The testing and monitoring device is characterized in that a passive non-linear transmission element transforms very short shock wave pulses received by it, the shock wave pulses typically having pulse durations lasting a few microseconds, into a considerably lower frequency range, whose oscillations are then sensed and evaluated.

Abstract: A urological working place for a lithotriptor, said working place comprising a U-bow having arranged thereon an X-ray source at one end thereof—which is normally the upper end—and an image processing means at the other end thereof—which is normally the lower end—said image processing means co-operating with said X-ray source, and further comprising an examination table which is attached to said U-bow, said X-ray source and said image processing means being adapted to be displaced relative to the U-bow individually and also synchronously in the transverse direction, and said U-bow being supported in the lower area thereof such that it is tiltable in the longitudinal direction of the examination table, said examination table, which is secured to the U-bow, being releasably secured and adapted to be replaced by an examination table which is independent of the movements of the U-bow.

Abstract: A device for the testing and monitoring of the function of a shock wave or pressure wave source is provided. The testing and monitoring device is characterized in that a passive non-linear transmission element transforms very short shock wave pulses received by it, the shock wave pulses typically having pulse durations lasting a few microseconds, into a considerably lower frequency range, whose oscillations are then sensed and evaluated.

Abstract: A shockwave or pressure-wave therapeutic apparatus is provided in which a therapy head is equipped with a shockwave source. The shockwave source is connected via a shock generator to a control means which controls the release frequency of shockwaves as a function of the pulse energy thereof in such a manner that higher pulse energies correlate with lower release frequencies of the shockwaves and vice versa.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a shockwave source to the body of a patient is provided. The apparatus may include a coupling bellows that is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The coupling bellows may include a coupling portion that is configured to provide a coupling surface relative to the body of a patient and is transmissive to shockwaves. The coupling bellows may also include an outer portion that is sound-insulating.