Shockwave therapy applications
Richard Wolf has played a precedent role in the development of medical shockwave systems based on piezoelectric technology. In practical use, this technology has proven to be highly precise and very effective. In addition, users benefit from the system's exceptional cost-effectiveness. For patients the piezoelectrically generated shockwave is gentle and for the most part pain-free.
Richard Wolf piezo shockwave systems combine patient-friendly technology with excellent performance. Point-focused, linear-focused or planar. Urologists, orthopedists, and physical therapists alike appreciate this non-invasive procedure for stone and pain treatment.
Concomitant with the value of the technology, ELvation® Medical's exclusive ESWL and ESWT team provides qualified customer care and authorized service from a single source.
Since the early 1990s, extracorporeal shockwaves have also been successfully used for the treatment of chronic pain conditions.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and trigger point shockwave therapy (TPST) are highly efficient, non-invasive treatments of chronic pain in the musculoskeletal system. Through its successful use in other indications for the treatment of acute and chronic pain of the musculoskeletal system, ESWT has firmly established itself in the conservative treatment spectrum of physicians.
Mechanisms and effects of ESWT described in the literature:
Neovascularization
Induced release of growth factors such as TGF-ß1, VEGF
Stimulates proliferation of fibroblasts
Stimulation of mesenchymal stem cell migration
Antibacterial effect
Local circulation promotion and suppression of proinflammatory processes
Detailed information is provided at www.elvation.de.
Extracorporeal shockwave
The classic orthopedic indications for shockwave therapy (ESWT) are diseases of the tendon attachment sites, such as changes in the soft tissue area of the rotator cuff at the shoulder, tennis or golfer elbow, patella tip syndrome at the knee or plantar fascia in heel pain.
In sports medicine, tendon attachment tendinoses (enthesiopathy) is one of the standard indications for treatment with focused shockwave therapy.
Clinical studies evaluate the effects of ESWT in this area with lesser emphasis on the destruction of tissue, but rather with more emphasis on stimulation or activation of tissue substances, which thus stimulate the self-healing process.
Trigger point shockwave therapy
In trigger point shockwave therapy (TPST), the penetration depth, intensity, power and pulse frequency of the shockwave pulses can be easily applied for the various indications.
Before treatment, the trigger points can be located exactly with the precisely defined focus point. Due to the variable penetration depth, even triggers in the depth of the muscles can be localized and treated with pinpoint accuracy. Thereby treatment achieves maximum efficiency.
The planar therapy source FP4 for the PiezoWave therapy unit considerably expands the treatment spectrum in ESWT/TPST. This makes it possible to successfully treat large-area, near-surface myofascial syndromes. The combined use of planar therapy source FP4 and focused therapy source F10 G4 also enables therapy of many orthopedic indications.
Products for this technique
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is the most commonly used treatment for kidney stones, ureter stones, and bladder stones. Here pressure waves are generated outside of the body, which are transfered to the patient from the outside by means of a transducer and focused on the stone through skin and tissue in order to break it down into sand-like particles. Afterwards, the stone can be easily excreted in urine through the urinary tract.
Piezo technology
Piezo elements arranged in a spherical dome are expanded briefly and simultaneously in the micrometer range by a high-voltage pulse and generate a pressure pulse. The piezo elements are aligned precisely to the therapy focus. The precise focusing of the pulse results in shockwave formation in the treatment focus.
The piezo shockwave by Richard Wolf is currently the only shockwave principle that uses "direct focusing" and does not require an additional reflector. This technology is the basis for the compact and ergonomic design of the therapy source, and for a precise, well-defined focus zone. It is quiet, virtually painless, and generates high sound pressure in the focus.
Focus zones
The focus size for stone crushing must meet various requirements. On one hand, it must be small and compactly defined to protect the surrounding tissue and effectively fragment even hard stones. On the other hand, it must be more voluminous to crush large stones or stone fragments. Also the cyclic changes in position of the stone due to respiratory movement frequently require a larger therapy focus.
In order to be able to act individually, the PiezoLith 3000Plus allows selection of three different focus zones; which is unique to the world and switchable even during the treatment. This unique variability is based on the generation of piezoelectric shockwaves.
The large-area energy coupling reduces the energy density on the skin surface and considerably reduces pain. The precisely defined focal zone allows accurate treatment while providing the best possible protection of the surrounding tissue.
Localization and positioning
The localization and positioning procedures occur with the aid of ultrasound or x-ray. The therapy source of the new treatment system PiezoLith 3000Plus can be adapted to a wide variety of x-ray devices, so that the mobility of the x-ray C-arm and the modularity of the individual components of the lithotripsy system are retained.
Products for this technique
ESWT and ED
Linear focused piezo shockwaves to treat vascular erectile dysfunction.
For the first time, linear focused shockwaves and the practical piezo therapy source made it possible to treat the entire corpus cavernosum quickly and comprehensively.
This guarantees a maximum uniform energy output. Treatment is completed within just a few minutes. The procedure is referred to as LSTC-ED (linear shockwave tissue coverage – erectile dysfunction).
As a registered user you can see here the treatment of erectile dysfunction with shock wave therapy
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Products for this technique
ELvation Medical GmbH
ELvation Medical GmbH, as the exclusive authorized ESWL/ESWT Sales & Service Team of Richard Wolf GmbH, supports you in the procurement and service of your piezo shockwave system.
