Abstract: An apparatus for generating focused acoustical pressure waves for therapeutical applications and, in particular, for destroying concrements, corporeal stone, etc., comprises a sound generating unit, which generates pressure waves in a coupling medium, a reflector which focuses the waves and having, if necessary, a locating unit for locating the concrements, corporeal stones, etc., to be destroyed. The sound generating unit is a corpus or body which is axially symmetrical to an axis running through the focal point and whose casing extends in the direction of the axis and is the emission area for the waves. The sound generating unit generates axially symmetrical pressure waves, the propagation direction of which is essentially perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: According to the invention, the use properties of a shock wave apparatus are improved by providing a metrological detection of the pressing force in addition to a sensual perception of the pressing force by a user. In this context, the invention relates to a shock wave apparatus having a housing and a contact device held at the housing, wherein the contact device is held via a force sensor at the housing in such a way that a force is transmitted from the contact device to the housing via the force sensor, at least partially.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for setting a pressure application time in an apparatus (10, 44) for treating the human or animal body by mechanical shockwaves, independently of pressure and/or frequency values set, and to a respective apparatus (10, 44).

Abstract: A medical apparatus for treatment of the human or animal body by mechanical pressure waves or shock waves, comprising a device designed to generate the pressure waves or shock waves and having at least one applicator part that comprises an input face, to which an impact can be repeatedly applied in order to generate the pressure waves or shock waves, and that comprises an output face, from which the pressure waves or shock waves are applied into the body, said applicator part being made at least partially of plastic or ceramic. At least one weight element that increases the weight of the applicator part is arranged on the applicator part between the input and output faces, said input face and output face being made of plastic or ceramic.

Abstract: A medical apparatus for treatment of the human or animal body by mechanical pressure waves or shock waves, comprises a device designed to generate the pressure waves or shock waves. The device for generating the pressure waves or shock waves have at least one applicator part which can be subjected to impacts at a proximal end in order to generate the pressure waves or shock waves and, at a distal end, applies the pressure waves or shock waves into the body. The apparatus is additionally designed to generate outside the body, and to apply into the body, at least one further physiological action parameter chosen from the group consisting of electrical current, electro-magnetic waves, in particular light, ultrasound and/or a further mechanical action.

Abstract: A medical apparatus for treatment of the human or animal body by pressure waves or shock waves has a device designed to generate the pressure waves or shock waves and having at least one applicator part and a pneumatic drive which, by means of a pressurized gas, repeatedly generates impacts on a proximal input face of the applicator part in order, with the applicator part, to generate pressure waves or shock waves that are applied from the applicator part into the body by way of a distal output face. The pressurized gas acts, in the form of individual gas pressure pulses, directly on the applicator part to generate the pressure waves or shock waves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of biological body substances, in particular of the human body, by accelerating a projectile (13) and colliding it onto an impact body (9) which couples a mechanical shockwave to biological body substance. Therein, the impact body (9) is made of sintered ceramics.

Abstract: A method is described for removing tooth fillings and shattering teeth using a device that generates focused acoustic pressure or shock waves with an appropriate energy. The focussed waves are coupled into the tooth and/or the filling. The apparatus includes a sound generating unit for generating focussed pressure or sound waves and a coupling cushion for coupling the focussed waves through a cheek or open mouth of the patient into the tooth or filling to be removed.