Cost-effective shock wave hydrophones

This article presents the design of a newly developed wideband, quantitative shock wave sensor (hydrophone) made of piezoelectric material polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). The novel aspects of this device include a disposable sensor element to reduce the per shot costs, and a self-monitoring feature that informs the user that the sensor needs to be replaced. The development, design, and use of the sensors are presented. Results indicate that these sensors can fulfill the requirements for accurate, wideband measurement of lithotripter fields, suitable for quantitative biophysical research or Food and Drug Administration submissions. The disposable feature of the hydrophone system makes the system cost effective for research, quality assurance, and regulatory submissions.