Spark Wave® Technology Explained
From Energy Generation
to Therapeutic Application
Core Principles and Mechanisms
Shockwave therapy combines advanced physical principles with complex biological responses. The acoustic energy delivered interacts with tissues on a cellular level, triggering natural healing processes. A solid understanding of technology and physiology is essential for effective and evidence-based clinical use. This platform offers insights into the science behind shockwave therapy – from fundamental physics to clinical evidence. [1] [2]
MTS Spark Wave
Technology
With plasma-driven shockwave generation, MTS Medical has successfully advanced electrohydraulic shockwave technology to a new level, enabling the use of true initial shockwaves for a wide range of medical applications.
The electrohydraulic shockwave generation process begins with a high-voltage discharge of approximately
7 kV between two electrodes. This discharge creates a plasma channel in water, leading to detonative evaporation. As a result, a plasma-driven initial shockwave is formed, characterized by a typical blast wave profile with steep pressure gradients and high peak amplitudes. [1] [3]
A detonation of Spark Wave can create a shockwave that initially propagates with up to 4x the speed of sound (Mach 4).
Spark Wave’s unique pressure signature
High Voltage between Electrodes, EM-Field
Direct Liquid Phase Discharge
Plasma Channel Format
Detonative Expansion of Vapour Bubble
The resulting advantages
of the electrohydraulic principle are:
PLASMA-DRIVEN "INITIAL"
HIGH-ENERGETIC
SHOCKWAVE GENERATION
WIDE AND BROAD
TREATMENT VOLUMES
NO NEED FOR
NARROW TARGETING
DURING APPLICATION
The Generation Principles:
Not All Shockwaves Are the Same
Electrohydraulic Shockwave Generation
Electrohydraulic systems generate shockwaves through a high-voltage spark discharge in water. This creates a plasma channel, resulting in a detonation-like explosion and a supersonic initial shockwave. The wave propagates directly into the tissue, producing a large therapeutic volume. [1] [3]
Piezoelectric and electromagnetic systems create focused pressure waves by deforming solid elements or membranes. The mechanical displacement of these components–limited by their inertia–results in relatively slow movement, far below the speed of sound. A true shockwave may only form in the narrow focal zone through nonlinear wave steepening, where the wavefront becomes steep enough to resemble a shockwave. [1] [3]
Radial pressure wave systems, on the other hand, use a projectile accelerated by compressed air or electromagnetic force to strike an applicator tip. This generates a radially spreading pressure wave that is inherently non-focused and has lower peak pressure. Radial waves are not shockwaves by definition; they lack the steep pressure rise, high peak amplitude, and propagation characteristics of true shockwaves. [1] [3]
In terms of penetration depth, focused shockwave systems can deliver energy deep into the tissue, making them suitable for treating conditions such as deep tendinopathies, bone pathologies, and chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Radial pressure waves are characterized by rapid energy release and at the surface, leading to shallow tissue penetration. [1]
References
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Moya, D.; Ramón, S.; Schaden, W.; Wang, C.-J.; Guiloff, L.; Cheng, J.-H. The Role of Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatment in Musculoskeletal Disorders. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 2018, 100 (3), 251–263. https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.17.00661.
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Slezak, C.; Rose, R.; Jilge, J. M.; Nuster, R.; Hercher, D.; Slezak, P. Physical Considerations for In Vitro ESWT Research Design. IJMS 2021, 23 (1), 313. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23010313.
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Ogden, J. A.; Tóth-Kischkat, A.; Schultheiss, R. Principles of Shock Wave Therapy. Clinical Orthopaedics No. 387.
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