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Research project

A passive acoustic system for evaluating the in vivo performance of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy

  • Research groups:
  • Research funder:
    EPSRC
  • Status:
    Not active

Project overview

The research has produced a sensor system for identifying the optimum positioning of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) equipment and for identifying the degree of fragmentation of the stone as the treatment proceeds. ESWL is a treatment used for patients suffering renal, ureteric, salivary duct and gall stone disease. An acoustic shockwave - generated outside the body - is used to fragment the stones to a small size so that they can more easily pass through the body or be dissolved using drugs. The intention of this invention is to allow the clinical operator of the lithotripter machine to determine more accurately when the treatment should be ended using a passive sensing technique. It consists of a passive acoustic pressure sensor that can be placed against the patient during treatment. The sensor picks up the acoustic signals generated by (and scattered from) the stone as the shockwave lithotripsy is progressed as well as signals resulting from an effect known as acoustic cavitation that occurs close to the stone. By monitoring characteristics of these signals it is possible to monitor whether the incident lithotripter shock is on-target and the degree to which stone cavitation has occurred.

Collaborating research institutes, centres and groups

Research outputs

Prediction of far-field acoustic emissions from cavitation clouds during shock wave lithotripsy for development of a clinical device
T. G. Leighton, C.K. Turangan, A.R. Jamaluddin, G.J. Ball & P.R. White, 2013, Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 469(2150), 20120538-[21pp]
DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2012.0538
Type: article
The collapse of single bubbles and approximation of the far-field acoustic emissions for cavitation induced by shock wave lithotripsy
2011, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 677, 305-341
DOI: 10.1017/jfm.2011.85
Type: article
Lithotripsy
2010, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, 224(2), 317-342
DOI: 10.1243/09544119JEIM588
Type: article
A passive acoustic device for real-time monitoring the efficacy of shockwave lithotripsy treatment
T.G. Leighton, F. Fedele, A.J. Coleman, C. McCarthy, S. Ryves, A.M. Hurrell, A. De Stefano & P.R. White, 2008, Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 34(10), 1651-1665
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2008.03.011
Type: article
Free-Lagrange simulations of the expansion and jetting collapse of air bubbles in water
2008, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 598, 1-25
DOI: 10.1017/S0022112007009317
Type: article
The development of a passive acoustic device for monitoring the effectiveness of shockwave lithotripsy in real time
Timothy Leighton, Fiammetta Fedele, Andrew Coleman, Catherine McCarthy, Ahmad Jamaluddin, Cary Turangan, Graham Ball, Simon Ryves, Andrew Hurrell, Antonello De Stefano & Paul White, 2008, Hydroacoustics, 11, 159-180
Type: article
An ultrasound based passive monitoring system for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
F. Fedele, A.J. Coleman, T.G. Leighton, P.R. White, V.F. Humphrey, S. Ryves, A.M. Hurrell & D.C. Finfer, 2006, Proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics, 28(1), 770-773
Type: article