Patent ID: 8900166

Claim:
An electrohydraulic shock-wave therapy apparatus providing constant pressure extracorporeal shock-waves, the apparatus comprising: a high voltage power supply that is functionally coupled to and charges a high voltage capacitor; wherein said capacitor is functionally connected to a spark plug wherein said connection is mediated with a pulse generator; said spark plug having two common axis electrodes separated by a narrow gap between tips of the electrodes, said tips of said electrodes provided to generate said constant pressure extracorporeal shock-waves to form generated constant pressure extracorporeal shock-waves when said capacitor is discharged; said pulse generator having a high voltage gated spark gap switch utilized to cause said capacitor to discharge into said spark plug; wherein said pulse generator is controlled with a controller module for adjusting an input voltage provided to said spark plug; wherein said controller module monitors a number of said generated constant pressure extracorporeal shock-waves; wherein said spark plug is positioned adjacent to a concave reflector surface such that said generated constant pressure extracorporeal shock-waves expand radially from said spark plug and strike said concave reflector surface utilized to focus and transfer said generated constant pressure extracorporeal shock-waves toward a focal point; wherein the apparatus is characterized in that said controller module automatically controls and adjusts the input voltage provided to said spark plug, in order to compensate for electrode erosion of said tips without movement of said tips; and wherein said input voltage is controlled according to the number of generated constant pressure extracorporeal shock waves using a predefined shock number calibration graph, wherein automatic control and adjustment-of the input voltage occurs substantially in real time.