Abstract: An apparatus for generating shock waves, especially for medical application, creates a spark discharge between two electrodes in a liquid medium. At least one of the electrodes is moveable between a first limit position that corresponds to the smallest possible distance between the two electrodes, and a second limit position that corresponds to the largest possible distance between the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention is for an apparatus for the generation of shock waves, especially for medical application, by means of a spark discharge between two electrodes (6, 7) within a liquid medium with appliances for the movement (216) of at least one of the electrodes (6, 7) along a specified direction of movement, for an electrode unit for the generation of shock waves with two electrodes (6, 7) positioned within a liquid medium and to which a high voltage can be applied for the generation of an electrical disruptive discharge, for a procedure for the calibration of distances for a pair of electrodes (1; 201) for the generation of shock waves by means of an under water spark discharge and for a procedure for the generation of shock waves by means of an under water spark discharge between two electrodes (6, 7).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a electrode assembly and related method that includes a insulator assembly, an electrode assembly, a charging system, a mechanism for measuring electrical voltages, a mechanism for adjusting the distance between inner and outer electrode tips, and a controller. The insulator assembly includes an insulator body having a hollow central portion with a threaded inner wall. The insulator assembly includes inner and outer conductors that are electrically connected to the charging system and are physically connected to inner and outer electrodes, respectively. The electrodes are positioned such that their longitudinal axes are aligned and the tips of the electrodes are in relatively close physical proximity. The distance between the tips is defined as the spark gap. The charging system charges a capacitor that discharges and forms a spark across the spark gap.