PIEZO SHOCKWAVE TECHNOLOGY

UNIQUE PRECISION AND OUTSTANDING RATES OF STONE ELIMINATION

Piezo elements are arranged on a concave surface and a high-voltage pulse is used to briefly expand the elements by a few micrometers to create a pressure pulse. The piezo elements are aligned precisely with the therapy focus. The precise focusing of the pulse results in a steepening of the shockwave at the treatment focus.
The piezo shockwave by Richard Wolf is currently the only shockwave system to use direct focusing and therefore does not require additional reflectors. This makes the therapy source compact and ergonomic, with a precise and well-defined focal zone. The technology is quiet, almost painless, and creates a strong acoustic pressure at the point of focus.
Energy coupling is spread over a broad area to reduce energy density at the skin surface, as this significantly decreases the pain sensation. The precise focal zone ensures that treatment is precisely targeted and also offers optimal protection to surrounding tissue.
The therapy source of the PiezoLith 3000Plus is equipped with patented double-layer technology (DLT) which almost doubles the energy output, resulting in excellent stone disintegration. Users can choose between single pulse or continuous pulse applications of 30-360 shockwaves per minute and ECG synchronization.

Triple focus – variable focus adapted to the size of the stone

The focal size required to disintegrate stones must fulfil a number of requirements. It has to be small and compact enough to preserve surrounding tissue from trauma but must also be effective enough to break up hard stones. The focal size must also be large enough to disintegrate large stones and stone fragments. The cyclic changes in the position of stones caused by breathing mean that larger therapy foci are often required. To permit such individual adjustments, the PiezoLith 3000Plus, as the only one of its kind, offers a choice between three different focal zone sizes. Clinicians can switch between focal sizes, even during treatment. This unique variability is due to the process by which piezoelectric shockwaves are generated. The electronic activation of the double piezo layer makes it possible to create different, precisely defined focal areas.

Dual simultaneous real-time localization (DSR)

This is the most precise and continuous type of localization. DSR localization allows clinicians to carry out ultrasound and X-ray localization simultaneously, alternately or separately. All localization systems are motor-driven and motor-controlled. The design of the therapy source and the Richard Wolf piezo shockwave concept allow users to place the ultrasound probe “in-line” for the continuous monitoring of shockwave lithotripsy procedures.
The “out-line” concept used for X-ray localization offers optimal imaging quality and limits patient exposure to radiation. Both X-ray localization and ultrasound localization can be carried out without interrupting the shockwave lithotripsy procedure and without mechanical repositioning.

Triple focus – variable focus adapted to the size of the stone

The focal size required to disintegrate stones must fulfil a number of requirements. It has to be small and compact enough to preserve surrounding tissue from trauma but must also be effective enough to break up hard stones. The focal size must also be large enough to disintegrate large stones and stone fragments. The cyclic changes in the position of stones caused by breathing mean that larger therapy foci are often required. To permit such individual adjustments, the PiezoLith 3000Plus, as the only one of its kind, offers a choice between three different focal zone sizes. Clinicians can switch between focal sizes, even during treatment. This unique variability is due to the process by which piezoelectric shockwaves are generated. The electronic activation of the double piezo layer makes it possible to create different, precisely defined focal areas.

Dual simultaneous real-time localization (DSR)

This is the most precise and continuous type of localization. DSR localization allows clinicians to carry out ultrasound and X-ray localization simultaneously, alternately or separately. All localization systems are motor-driven and motor-controlled. The design of the therapy source and the Richard Wolf piezo shockwave concept allow users to place the ultrasound probe “in-line” for the continuous monitoring of shockwave lithotripsy procedures.
The “out-line” concept used for X-ray localization offers optimal imaging quality and limits patient exposure to radiation. Both X-ray localization and ultrasound localization can be carried out without interrupting the shockwave lithotripsy procedure and without mechanical repositioning.