Shock-wave
Shock wave research was traditionally developed as an element of high-speed gas dynamics supporting
supersonicflights and atmospheric reentry of space vehicles. However, recently its scope has expanded to
the comprehensive interpretation of shock wave phenomena in nature and the artificial world.
In particular, many aspects of volcanoes's explosive eruptions are closely related to shock wave dynamics.
One hypothesis proposes that during asteroid impact events that took place millions of years ago
underwater shock waves played a decisive role in mass extinction of marine creatures. Shock waves have
been successfully applied to medical therapy. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was a wonderful
success in noninvasive removal of urinary tract stones. Recently, shock wave therapy was further developed
for the revascularization of cerebral embolism, drug delivery, and other interesting therapeutic methods.
Shock wave physics[edit | edit source]
When an object (or disturbance) moves faster than the information about it can be propagated into the surrounding fluid, fluid near the disturbance cannot react or "get out of the way" before the disturbance arrives. In a shock wave the properties of the fluid (density, pressure, temperature, velocity, Mach number) change almost instantaneously. Measurements of the thickness of shock waves have resulted in values 2 micrometers (10-5 in), which is on the same order of magnitude as the mean free gas molecule path. In reference to the continuum, this implies the shock wave can be treated as either a line or a plane, if the flow field is 2d or 3d respectively.
Shock waves form when the speed of a fluid changes by more than the speed of sound. At the region where this occurs sound waves traveling against the flow reach a point where they cannot travel any further upstream and the pressure progressively builds in that region, and a high pressure shock wave rapidly forms.
Shock waves are not conventional sound waves; a shock wave takes the form of a very sharp change in the
gas properties on the order of a few mean free paths (roughly micro-meters at atmospheric conditions)
in thickness. Shock waves in air are heard as a loud "crack" or "snap" noise. Over longer distances a shock
wave can change from a nonlinear wave into a linear wave, degenerating into a conventional sound wave as
it heats the air and loses energy. The sound wave is heard as the familiar "thud" or "thump" of a sonic boom,
commonly created by the supersonic flight of aircraft.
Figure:Pressure-time diagram at an external observation point for the case of a supersonic object propagating past
the observer. The leading edge of the object causes a shock (left, in red) and the trailing edge of the object
causes an expansion.
Shock wave physics in medicine[edit | edit source]
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Technology (ESWT) is a technological breakthrough in non-invasive surgical
alternatives. ESWT offers patients and physicians benefits which traditional surgery cannot match, and
the clinical outcomes prove that ESWT is just as, if not more, effective when compared to traditional open
surgery.
Electrohydraulic shock wave generation (Spark gap method)[edit | edit source]
True shock waves generated for medical purposes consist of a dominant pressure pulse which climbs
steeply to some tenths or even hundreds of Mega-Pascals (MPa; 1 MPa = 10 bar) within several nanoseconds
(nanosecond = 1/billionth of a second) and then falls again within several microseconds
(microsecond = 1/millionth of a second); this wave is followed by a weaker tensile wave portion lasting for
several microseconds.
The electrohydraulic source used by PulseVet's® VersaTron®, VersaTron® 4Paws, and EquiTron creates the
most effective shock waves for medical purposes. These shock waves have the largest target volume and the
steepest leading edge. The spark gap method, whereby a spark is generated between two electrodes, is a very
effective and reproducible technique for producing shock waves of this kind. Owing to the extremely high rise
in pressure at the wave front, there is a high concentration of mechanical energy in the direction of wave propagation.
This technique, which is the benchmark of all shock wave generation methods, is based on the following principle:
a capacitor which has been charged to a high voltage discharges electrical energy abruptly at the 1st focal point
over two electrode tips located in water (underwater spark discharge). The shock wave created by the explosive
evaporation of water is focused by an ellipsoid and finally releases its maximum energy at the 2nd focal point.
The shock wave is conveyed into the body via a water cushion. The electrohydraulic shock wave generation method
is the only method that generates a true shock wave at all energy settings.
Other types of shock wave generation[edit | edit source]
Electromagnetic shock wave generation (EMSG)[edit | edit source]
With this method, shock waves are generated on the basis of a principle similar to that used in loudspeakers. An electrical
impulse is sent through an inductance coil, generating a magnetic field which repulses a metallic membrane. The acoustic
impulse created by this repulsion is focused by an acoustic lens to form a shock wave. The electromagnetic method of
shock wave generation requires an extensive water-based cooling system.
Piezoelectronic shock wave generation[edit | edit source]
Shock waves created on the basis of the piezoelectronic principle are generated by about a thousand piezoelectronic
crystals arranged on the inside of a conical segment. The intermittent application of a high voltage to the crystals causes
them to alternately contract and expands. Owing to the particular arrangement of the crystals on the conical segment,
the acoustic impulses are bundled into a shock wave at the focal point.
Piezoelectronic shock wave generation has not been approved by the FDA.
Both electromagnetic and piezoelectric shock wave generation are popular for lithotripsy due to their small focal area,
allowing most of the generated acoustic energy to be targeted at a very small object such as a kidney stone. A small
focal area is not optimal, however, for treating a larger target area, as would be necessary in most orthopedic or chronic
wound indications. At low-amplitude settings these technologies do not produce a true shock wave.
Radial or ballistic pressure wave generation[edit | edit source]
(Not a shock wave, but has been marketed as a shock wave)
Ballistic (Radial): This type of device has an oscillating pneumatically driven head that is applied directly to the tissue
surface and mechanically impulses over the target tissue. Maximum penetration effect of this type of device is
approximately 5mm. In a published study, it was found that one ballistic device investigated which was labeled
as a "focused shock wave" device was neither focused nor a shock wave.
Shock wave treatment[edit | edit source]
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in orthopedics and traumatology is still a young therapy method. Since the last few years
the development of shock wave therapy has progressed rapidly. Shock waves have changed the treatment of urolithiasis
substantially. Today shock waves are the first choice to treat kidney and urethral stones. Urology has long been the only
medical field for shock waves in medicine.
Meanwhile shock waves have been used in orthopedics and traumatology to treat insertion tendinitis, avascular necrosis
of the head of femur and other necrotic bone alterations. Another field of shock wave application is the treatment of tendons,
ligaments and bones on horses in veterinary medicine. The idea behind using shock wave therapy for orthopedic diseases is
the stimulation of healing in tendons, surrounding tissue and bones. This is a completely different approach compared to
urology where shock waves are used for disintegration
Links[edit | edit source]
Related articles[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
Wang CJ, Wang, FS, Yang, KD. Biological Mechanism of Musculoskeletal Shockwaves. International society for musculoskeletal shockwave therapy – ISMST Newsletter. Volume 1.
Wang CJ, Wang FS, Yang KD, Weng LH, Ko JY. Long-term results of extracorporeal shockwave treatment for plantar fasciitis. Am J Sports Med. 2006 Apr;34(4):592-6.
Gutersohn A, Caspari G, and Erbel R. Upregulation of VEGF-mRNA in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells via shock waves. Presentation; Eur J Heart Failure 2000;2(Suppl1):42.
Meirer R, Kamelger FS, Huemer GM, Wanner S, and Piza-Katzer H. Extracorporeal shock wave may enhance skin flap survival in an animal model. Presentation no. 59; 8th Int Congress of the ISMST, May 29th to June 1st 2005, Vienna, Austria.
Meirer R, Huemer GM, Oehlbauer M, Wanner S, Piza-Katzer H, and Kamelger FS. Comparison of the effectiveness of gene therapy with vascular endothelial growth factor or shock wave therapy to reduce ischaemic necrosis in an epigastric skin flap model in rats. J Plastic Recon and Aesthetic Surg. 2007; 60:266-271.
S. K. Shrivastava, Kailash. Shock wave treatment in medicine. March 2005, Volume 30, Issue 2, pp 269-275