體外震波治療專利技術

Urology is not the only field in medicine where shockwaves were used successfully. In 1985 the first experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of shockwaves on bones. The reason for this research was the apprehension that shockwaves could damage the hip as a result of shockwave therapy on lower ureteral stones. The result of these experiments was that on an intact bone no considerable alteration was observed. Further animal experiments showed that shockwaves have osteogenetic potential and stimulate fracture healing. Histological investigations confirmed the influence of shockwaves on the activation of osteoblasts.

In 1988 the first shockwave treatment of bone non-union in human was successfully performed in Bochum/Germany. At the same time Valchanow et. al. reported about shockwave therapy on non-unions and delayed unions. His success rate was 85% but the requirements of his clinical study were not exactly specified. In the next years different clinical studies reported about success rates between 60% and 90%. Two essential circumstances exert influence on the success of the shockwave therapy on non-unions or delayed unions. The influence of shockwaves on hypertrophic non-unions seems to be more effective as on atrophic non-unions. The stabilization of the fracture after shockwave therapy seems to be an essential condition for the success of the therapy. As side effects local haematomas, petechial hemorrhage and local swelling were found. These side effects disappeared within a few days without any complications.

At the beginning of the 90’ies the first reports about shockwave therapy on tendinitis calcarea were published. Further investigations lead to successful treatment of epicondylitis and heel spur with reported success rates between 70% and 80%.

In recent years, low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) becomes the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Treatment consists of noninvasive low-intensity shockwaves that pass through erectile tissue, restoring natural erectile function by clearing plaque out of blood vessels and encouraging the growth of new blood vessels. The shockwave treatment offers a cure in that it reverses the problems that cause the dysfunction in the first place — the most desired win-win outcome coveted by men with ED. In 2014, European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines announce Li-ESWT being the first-line therapy of ED.

In 2012, Lite-Med Inc. cooperated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center to start the Li-ESWT research and new Li-ESWT indications development.

In 2018, Lite-Med Inc. signed a joint letter of cooperation with the Center of Shockwave Medicine and Tissue Engineering of Chang Geng Medical Foundation.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Techniques evolve along with the evolution of Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripter and most of the machine applies small focal point focused shockwave. Such machine is featured with high single point energy and it is very effective for bone healing and bone calcification. Shockwave treatment medical application is getting wider and wider and the position needs be treated may be not a single point but an area. In such situation, doctor and operator must keep on moving or change the angle of treatment probe to be effective in treatment. If the area is rather small, such as medical application for a small point, precise location is becoming very important, and avoiding peripheral tissue from injured by excessive shockwave is becoming the main issue.

Lite-Med has developed an innovative and wide treatment scope of Electromagnetic Shockwave Generator. It is capable of generating 4 times wider focused shockwave and effective treatment depth is as deep as 150 mm. Through setting the shockwave energy density, the treatment can be controlled within safety range. (The safety energy density mentioned in literature is lower 0.08mj/mm2). According to the experiment conducted by Lite-Med and UCSF Medical School, as well as the thesis prevented by other laboratories and patent report, such an energy density is safe and can effective activate cell and peripheral nerve tissues.