Regenerative Medicine of Tomorrow

Scientific Insights into Spark Wave®
Therapy Applications

Lithotripsy
ESWL Breaks Kidney Stones Through Squeezing Effect

Kidney stones are hard, crystal-like deposits that form in the kidneys when there is an excess of certain minerals in the urine. They can cause severe pain, urinary difficulties, and, if untreated, potential kidney damage. 

ESWL is a proven, non-invasive medical procedure designed to treat kidney stones effectively without surgery. The treatment uses precisely targeted shock waves to break larger stones into smaller, passable fragments, allowing them to exit naturally through the urinary tract. 

How ESWL Works:

Focused Shock Wave Energy:

Targets kidney stones without harming surrounding tissue. 

Stone Fragmentation:

Breaks stones into smaller pieces for natural passage.

Outpatient Procedure:

Minimally disruptive, allowing most patients to return home the same day. 

Shock waves induce extreme pressure gradients:

Compression and tensile phases. These altering stresses generate microfractures within the stone propagating under repeated load. At the interface between the stone and the surrounding tissue, differences in acoustic impedance led to partial reflection and local concentration of energy, thereby promoting the fragmentation of the stone into smaller particles. [5]

Key Benefits

Non-invasive alternative to surgical stone removal

Reduced recovery time and minimal discomfort

High success rate for appropriately sized stones

Preserves kidney structure and function

References

Pishchalnikov YA, McAteer JA, Williams JC Jr, Connors BA, Handa RK, Lingeman JE, Evan AP. Evaluation of the LithoGold LG-380 lithotripter: in vitro acoustic characterization and assessment of renal injury in the pig model. J Endourol. 2013 May;27(5):631-9.
Singh N, Agarwal S, Sarpal R. Prospective Evaluation of Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy in Renal and Upper Ureteric Stone Treatment: Clinical Assessment and Results. Cureus. 2024 May 26;16(5):e61102.
Oliveira B, Teixeira B, Magalhães M, Vinagre N, Fraga A, Cavadas V. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: retrospective study on possible predictors of treatment success and revisiting the role of non-contrast-enhanced computer tomography in kidney and ureteral stone disease. Urolithiasis. 2024 Apr 17;52(1):65.
Koçakgöl H, Yılmaz AH, Yapanoğlu T, Özkaya F, Şekerci ÇA, Bedir F. Efficacy and Predictive Factors of the Outcome of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: A Review of One-thousand-nine-hundred-ninety- seven Patients. J Urol Surg. 2019 Aug 20;6(3):207-212.
Eisenmenger et al.,2009 Die Physik der akustischen Nierensteinzertrümmerung und neue klinische Resultate.

Intended for use by healthcare professionals only and Indications are approved under MDD 93/42/EEC. Product availability, regulatory approvals, and certifications may vary by country. For detailed information regarding local availability and regulatory status, please contact your local sales representative.