Abstract: The method of treatment for a nasal or sinus tissue exhibiting a sinusitis or rhinosinusitis disease or condition in a diagnosed patient is disclosed. The method has the steps of activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves; and subjecting the nasal or sinus tissue, or the entire nasal or sinus region of the patient to the acoustic shock waves stimulating said tissue, wherein the tissue is positioned within a path of the emitted shock waves. The method of treatment may further have the steps of administering one or more medicaments prior, during or after subjecting the patient to acoustic shock waves or testing the bacterial count or viability of the treated tissue or region of the diagnosed patient after exposure to one or more acoustic shock wave treatments; or subjecting a tissue or organ to a surgical procedure to remove or repair some or all of any defects or degenerative tissues.

Abstract: The method of stimulating an aquatic life form is disclosed. The method has the steps of activating a pressure pulse or an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit pressure pulse or acoustic shock waves; and subjecting the aquatic life form to the pressure pulse or acoustic shock waves stimulating said aquatic life form wherein the aquatic life form is positioned within a path of the emitted shock waves. The aquatic life form is a tissue having cells. The tissue can be an egg, zygotic embryo or larvae or an immature or a mature specimen. The aquatic life form may be a fish, shellfish, any crustacean, mussel, slam, oyster, abalone, scallop, shrimp, lobster, crab, crawfish, eel, octopus or any other aquatic life form. The method of stimulating includes activating the cells within the treated tissue thereby releasing growth factor proteins or other chemical compositions promoting growth and accelerating maturization.

Abstract: The method of treatment for a periodontal tissue exhibiting a periodontal disease or periodontal condition in a diagnosed patient is disclosed. The method has the steps of activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves; and subjecting the periodontal tissue, or the entire periodontal region of the patient to the acoustic shock waves stimulating said tissue, wherein the tissue is positioned within a path of the emitted shock waves. The method of treatment may further have the steps of administering one or more medicaments prior, during or after subjecting the patient to acoustic shock waves or testing the bacterial count or viability of the treated tissue or region of the diagnosed patient after exposure to one or more acoustic shock wave treatments; or subjecting a tissue or organ to a surgical procedure to remove or repair some or all of any defects or degenerative tissues. The method of treatment is for prevention of periodontal disease and may be used with debridement.

Abstract: The method of stimulating an organ comprises the steps of providing an at least partially exposed or direct access portal to an organ, activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves; and subjecting the organ to the acoustic shock waves stimulating said organ wherein the organ is positioned within a non obstructed path of the emitted shock waves.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for optimized electro-hydraulic pressure pulse generation that records characteristic parameters which can be measured insusceptible to error and compared with set values. The object of the invention is achieved by an apparatus in which an electro-hydraulic shock wave system is provided with a measuring and control device (13a, 13b) that measures the discharge current between the electrode tips (4, 5), and a process that influences the system parameters by means of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the generation of shockwaves, consisting of a pressure pulse source (7), at least one reflector element (2, 3, 102, 103, 104), a shockwave permeable diaphragm (8) and a shockwave conducting medium and enables the generation of different shockwave profiles in the treatment area without extensive modification or remounting. For this purpose the apparatus is equipped with an adjustment mechanism for changing the size of the reflection surface (5) located within the radiation path of the primary pressure pulse.

Abstract: A method and device are described for applying extracorporeally generated pressure waves, specifically acoustic shock waves, to the body of an organism. The effect of the shock waves in the impacted target area of the body is measured by extracorporeally disposed detectors which record the acoustic signals, the acoustic signals being generated within the tissue by the cavitation bubbles caused by the shock waves. The measured cavitation effect may be utilized to control and adjust the dosage of shock waves. The use of focused detectors allows for spatial scanning of the cavitation effect—with the result that the focus of the shock waves may be controlled, the tissue structure may be scanned, and the pressure field of the shock waves may be mapped.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and an apparatus for producing shock waves in a fluid for medical applications. In a work volume filled with fluid, the pressure is increased mechanically by pulses. The pressure pulse produced in the work volume is transferred to the fluid volume by means of a partition, in order to produce shock waves in the fluid volume.

Abstract: A method and a system for the treatment of a target area within the body of a human being or animal with acoustic shock waves, consisting of the step of generating shock waves outside the body, passing the shock waves through at least some body tissue, focusing the shock waves on the target area, putting at least some of the body tissue through which the shock waves pass under a positive pressure which is greater than the surrounding air pressure and a system.

Abstract: A process for therapeutic treatment of changes in human or animal bones which cause a boundary surface gap with a width of less than 5 millimeters to form between the bone and an acoustically reflective body such as an implant, a tooth or a bone fragment. The process include a first step of locating the desired boundary surface gap by means of a locating device; next the body of the patient is exposed to acoustical shock waves through the surface of the skin after focusing the shock waves on the boundary surface gap. Vibrations are generated in the bone surfaces, the surfaces of the acoustically reflecting body, and at the gap by multiple reflections of the generated shock waves. The preferred device for carrying out the process uses a therapy head to generate and focus acoustic shock waves in a predetermined direction. The shock waves are conducted through the surface of the skin into the body of the patient by a coupling unit.

Abstract: A process for therapeutic treatment of changes in human or animal bones which cause a boundary surface gap with a width of less than 5 millimeters to form between the bone and an acoustically reflective body such as an implant, a tooth or a bone fragment. The process include a first step of locating the desired boundary surface gap by means of a locating device; next the body of the patient is exposed to acoustical shock waves through the surface of the skin after focusing the shock waves on the boundary surface gap. Vibrations are generated in the bone surfaces, the surfaces of the acoustically reflecting body, and at the gap by multiple reflections of the generated shock waves. The preferred device for carrying out the process uses a therapy head to generate and focus acoustic shock waves in a predetermined direction. The shock waves are conducted through the surface of the skin into the body of the patient by a coupling unit.

Abstract: The ignition of spark gaps for the production of shockwaves in the contactless comminution of concrements, using a capacitor discharge is improved by providing at least for some time prior to the ignition proper a voltage much smaller than the breakthrough voltage for producing a small current between the electrodes that prepares a channel in the discharge gap.

Abstract: A spark gap unit that is easy to manufacture and significantly lighter than previously used spark gap units for generating underwater shock waves, particularly for non-invasive lithotrispy, has an internal conductor with an inner electrode, an insulation which at least partially envelops the internal conductor, and an external conductor with a bow and an outer electrode. The internal conductor is significantly shorter than the external conductor, and the external conductor at the rearward end of the spark gap unit projects beyond the internal conductor. The internal conductor, the insulation, and the external conductor are coaxially arranged. An outside diameter of the internal conductor is relatively small in comparison to an inside diameter of the external conductor. The spark gap unit has a hollow space inside the insulation, this hollow space being open in the direction of a rearward end of the spark gap unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning the body of a patient in relation to equipment for contactless comminution of concrements such that the focal point of equipment is made to coincide with a concrement; the patient who lies on a rest which is moved with the patient on it in a longitudinal direction, tilted about it, and moved also laterally and in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal and lateral directions of movement; a water filled cushion with controlled water level is adapted for interpositioning between the equipment for comminution and focusing, and the patient, a plurality of differently oriented X-ray beams are provided for locating a concrement in the patient and images are marked through a light pen or the like on X-ray monitors; a control provides for homing-in the rest in relation to the comminution equipment such that its focal point coincides with the concrement as previously detected.