Abstract: The invention relates to a composite piezoelectric transducer for making an acoustic or an ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus. The transducer may be a single large-size transducer or it may be a multi-transducer device and it advantageously emits ultrasonic waves that are focused on a focal point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a device generating shockwaves which are only slightly, if at all, felt be the patients.This shockwave generating device comprises a truncated ellipsoidal reflector (12) which has a ratio (b)/(a) greater than 0.69, and preferably between 0.60 and 0.85 and a connection (14) supplying electric current to the electrodes (6, 8), which connection comprises a capacitor (18) having a capacitance less than or equal to 500 nanofarads.The result is a reduction of the energy density at skin level of the emitted shockwaves which are only slightly, if at all, felt by the patients, thus permitting a treatment without anaesthesia.