Patent ID: 7470274

Claim:
A shockwave generation apparatus for disintegrating an object, the apparatus comprising: a striking device; a shockwave generator; a shockwave transmitter; a gas storage device; a gas source; a gas expansion device; a sealing arrangement; and a control device; wherein in a first position, the sealing arrangement is arranged to couple the gas source to the gas storage device through the gas expansion device; wherein the control device is structured and arranged to move the sealing arrangement to a second position in which fluid communication between the gas expansion device and the gas storage device is prevented while coupling the gas storage device to the striking device; wherein, the striking device, when coupled to the gas storage device, is structured and arranged to contact the shockwave generator, which is structured and arranged to produce a shockwave directable to an object to be disintegrated through the shockwave transmitter; and return elements arranged to return the striking device and the control device to their respective initial positions.