Logo

Nowadays, discoveries that arise from basic science are rapidly used in practical applications. Examples of this are the development of equipment, instruments and new techniques for the clinical treatment of a never-ending number of ailments. As a consequence, no book can be considered as exhaustive, neither can one faithfully report the state of the art of a specialty at the moment it is published. Both study and theoretical and practical updating are indispensable requirements for medical doctors, technicians and scientists. About 40 years ago, the use of shock waves in medicine was introduced, with amazing discoveries and experiments. Extracorporeal lithotripsy revolutionized urology in an impressive way, thus motivating the application of shock waves in other fields, for instance, orthopedics, traumatology, oncology and cardiology. Research centers in several countries have devoted a great amount of economical resources to the understanding and exploitation of the different phenomena involved in the interaction of shock waves and the human body.

The application of shock waves in medicine and biotechnology is still a vast and fertile field of research. This multi-disciplinary task involves the collaboration of researchers working in several areas, such as physicians, physicists, engineers, chemists, mathematicians, microbiologists and neurobiologists. The information gathered regarding the use of shock waves in urology and orthopedics is enormous and must be passed on to the future generation of doctors and scientists. Therefore, the experiences, strategies and protocols described by experts in this book are an invaluable treasure for any professional interested in this subject.

In addition, renowned scientists describe several interesting technological advancements, some of which are already being used. Others aim towards fundamental improvements that may soon appear in the market, to be applied not only in urology, but in other areas of medicine and biotechnology as well. The main purpose of this book is to allow the specialized medical doctor to broaden his perception regarding several current aspects related to the applications of shock waves. As a consequence, this book presents both the interactions and the dynamics between scientific research and clinical application.