Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for continuously monitoring a coupling quality of a coupling interface between an acoustic energy source of a therapeutic device and a body surface area of a patient, comprising the steps of: (f) obtaining a plurality of images of at least one predetermined first area of the coupling interface; (g) extracting at least one first image characteristic of a predetermined first image of said plurality of images; (h) extracting said at least one first image characteristic of at least one second image of said plurality of images, said at least one second image being temporally spaced apart from said predetermined first image; (i) determining a quantitative parameter corresponding to a difference between said at least one first image characteristic of said predetermined first image and said at least one first image characteristic of said at least one second image, and (j) actuating a signal if said quantitative parameter exceeds a predetermined reference threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for continuously monitoring a coupling quality of a coupling interface between an acoustic energy source of a therapeutic device and a body surface area of a patient, comprising the steps of: (f) obtaining a plurality of images of at least one predetermined first area of the coupling interface; (g) extracting at least one first image characteristic of a predetermined first image of said plurality of images; (h) extracting said at least one first image characteristic of at least one second image of said plurality of images, said at least one second image being temporally spaced apart from said predetermined first image; (i) determining a quantitative parameter corresponding to a difference between said at least one first image characteristic of said predetermined first image and said at least one first image characteristic of said at least one second image, and (j) actuating a signal if said quantitative parameter exceeds a predetermined reference threshold.

Abstract: The invention concerns shock wave therapy device (1) with a shock wave therapy source (2) that is configured to emit a focused shock wave (4) onto a target (7) in a body of a patient (5), with an imaging device (10), which is configured to visualize the target (7), with a control unit, which is configured to move the target (7) relative to the emitted shock wave (4), with a respiration detector (13), which is configured to detect the respiration of a patient (5) and configured to produce a respiration signal, characterized by the control unit being configured to control the movement of the target (7) in accordance with a predefined movement pattern.

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: 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: 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: 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.