Acoustic cavitation generated by an extracorporeal shockwave lithotripter.

Evidence is presented of acoustic cavitation generated by a Dornier extracorporeal shockwave lithotripter. Using x-ray film, thin aluminum sheets, and relatively thick metal plates as targets, evidence of liquid jet impacts associated with cavitation bubble collapse was observed. The jet impact was violent enough to puncture thin foils and deform metal plates. Furthermore, numerous jet impacts were generated over a volume of greater than 200 cm3. It is likely that such violent cavitation will also occur in tissue, and observed biological effects (e.g. renal calculus disintegration and tissue trauma) may be related to cavitation damage.