Medical and Biomedical Applications of Shock Waves: The State of the Art and the Near Future

摘要

The use of more versatile systems, such as modified electromagnetic shock wave generators and piezoelectric shock wave systems composed of various individually driven piezoelectric segments, as well as multichannel electrical discharge sources will help improve the existing clinical treatments and develop novel biomedical applications for shock waves. Patients suffering from embolism, hypertonia, and dystonia may benefit from ESWT. New technologies using shock waves for drug release, needleless vaccine delivery, and DNA delivery into bacteria and fungi are being developed. The potential therapeutic use of shock waves in gene therapy and oncology is also promising. Biofilm removal to treat periodontitis, and the inactivation of fungi at the site of infections are other interesting uses of shock waves that are under investigation. Progress in understanding of the detailed phenomena involved in shock wave interactions with living tissue and cells will certainly be followed by an increasing number of biomedical uses and by safer and more efficient clinical shock wave therapies.