25th birthday of lithotripsy system
4 February 2005
WESSLING, Germany. 9 February 2005 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of
the first successful treatment of a patient using Dornier's lithotripsy
systems. This method is easy on the patient, making open surgical operations
superfluous, and it has revolutionized the treatment of patients suffering
from the stone. Today Dornier MedTech continues to offer innovative
solutions worldwide in the fields of urology and laser medicine.
At the end of the Seventies, Dornier made use of discoveries resulting
from the development of supersonic aircraft to develop the first kidney
stone disintegrator. This involved high-energy sound waves being focused on
stones in the kidney or ureter. The "shock wave bombardment" breaks stones
down into minute fragments, which can later be naturally excreted by way of
the ureter.
"We are proud of the fact that extracorporal shock wave lithotripsy has
established itself as an effective means of treatment, having been used to
benefit well over a million patients suffering from stones to date — a form
of treatment, too, that has a minimum of side-effects," says Michael Lerch,
Managing Director of Dornier MedTech Europe GmbH, with satisfaction. "Before
this discovery was made, stones had to be removed by an operation under
general anesthetic, and as we know, that was a hazardous business." Launched
on the market in 1984, Dornier's HM3 lithotripter was regarded until just
recently as "gold standard". It has been outdone, however, by the Dornier
Lithotripter S II, based on a powerful electromagnetic source of shock
waves.
Shock wave therapy has also been extended to orthopedic applications -
for the treatment of heel spur or tennis elbow, for instance.
Dornier MedTech is continuing to build on its position of market
leadership in the field of shock wave treatment.
"We are now offering compact, mobile and economical systems, and have
developed from a developer and manufacturer of medical equipment to become a
complete solution provider," explains Dr. Klaus Frank, Director with
responsibility for New Business & Product Management.
"Dornier MedTech is constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of
life of people who are sick," says Michael Lerch. "Minimizing stress to the
patient, safe methods of treatment and rapid recovery are the aims we
achieve with our therapeutic methods."
Further information:
Dornier MedTech Europe GmbH
Argelsrieder Feld 11,
82234 Wessling, GERMANY
Tel.: +49-(0)8153-888-163
Fax: +49-(0)8153-888-726
Email: info@dornier.com
Internet: www.dornier.com |