Pressure-optimized lithotripsy with the Siemens Lithostar: successful and tissue-protecting treatment of urinary...

With the Siemens Lithostar all kinds of urinary stones can be successfully treated at significantly lower pressure levels than with other commercially available lithotripters. Experimental and clinical experience indicates that for urinary stones there exists a pressure region between 200 and 400 bar (20-40 MPa) where lithotripsy can be performed successfully and the tissue can be protected. By calculation of isobar zones the pressure distribution of different lithotripters can be compared quantitatively. From this it becomes evident that the dynamic range of the Lithostar is optimized to that 'golden' pressure region.