A Miniaturized Shock-Wave Device for Mounting on Forceps

Abstract

To provide shock-wave exposure with high accuracy and widen the application area of shock-wave therapy, a miniaturized shock-wave device for endoscopic surgery was developed. The shock-wave device applies an electrohydraulic mechanism for generating shock waves in light of device miniaturization and suitability for standard clinical practice. The outer diameter of the shock-wave generator is 11 mm, so it can be inserted in the body through a trocar used in endoscopic surgery or a natural orifice in the case of natural-orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The distance between the shock-wave focal point and the front of the device is 10 mm. The focused shock wave was observed at the focal point by visualization with the schlieren imaging technique. The pressure at the focal point was measured, and the measurement revealed that the device can produce a peak pressure of 2.32±0.81 MPa at 2-kV discharge voltage, 3.69±1.06 MPa at 3 kV, 5.67±2.44 MPa at 4 kV, and 7.27±2.33 MPa at 5 kV.

Keywords

• underwater shock waves
• minimally invasive surgery
• forceps-compatible shock-wave device
• endoscopic surgery
• electrohydraulic shock-wave generator