Injury-free coupling and decoupling of therapeutic shock waves

In an instrument system for destroying concretions in a body of living tissue, having a liquid filled focusing chamber including a focusing surface which is a part of an ellipsoid of rotation, there being a shock wave generator in the focusing chamber at one focus thereof for generating shock waves by means of arc discharges, the improvement of the system comprising a first pad filled with a highly viscous liquid and provided for being located between the liquid-filled focusing chamber and a coupling site of the body, the front and rear sides of said first pad being composed of shape-adapting, acoustically matched thin foils, the first pad, because of its flexibility, its thinness and the use of transmitting materials, permitting simultaneous introduction of X-rays or ultrasonic waves for locating the concretions and to monitor the success in comminution;

• a second pad also filled with a highly viscous liquid, and provided for being located at a body site for acoustically decoupling from the body shock waves having been transmitted through the body, said second pad having a surface area for enclosing a large area of the body and having a rear site;
• a rigid dish;
• and a damping or diffusely reflecting layer fastening the rear side of said second pad to said dish.

In an instrument system for destroying concretions in a body of living tissue, having a liquid filled focusing chamber including a focusing surface which is a part of an ellipsoid of rotation, there being a shock wave generator in the focusing chamber at one focus thereof for generating shock waves by means of arc discharges, the improvement of the system comprising a first pad filled with a rubbery substance and provided for being located between the liquid-filled focusing chamber and a coupling site of the body, the front and rear sides of said first pad being composed of shape-adapting, acoustically matched thin foils, the first pad, because of its flexibility, its thinness and the use of transmitting materials, permitting simultaneous introduction of X-rays or ultrasonic waves for locating the concretions and to monitor the success in comminution;

• a second pad also filled with a rubbery substance, and provided for being located at a body site for acoustically decoupling from the body shock waves having been transmitted through the body, said second pad having a surface area for enclosing a large area of the body and having a rear site;
• a rigid dish;
• and a damping or diffusely reflecting layer fastening the rear side of said second pad to said dish.