Effects of Tissue Mimicking Material on Transient Cavitation Produced During Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a widely used treatment modality for kidney and ureteral stones¹. Recent studies have shown that transient cavitation induced by the tensile components of the lithotripsy shock waves is a primary mechanism for both stone fragmentation and tissue injury². Thus, the ability to detect and monitor the cavitation activity during ESWL is important to ensure the effectiveness and the safety of the treatment. In this study, we have used acoustic emission measurement and high-speed photography to assess the transient cavitation generated during ESWL. The effects of tissue mimicking material on ESWL-induced cavitation activity was examined.