In vitro comparison of two ballistic systems for endoscopic stone disintegration.

Endoscopic stone disintegration can be performed with various lithotripsy techniques. We compared two ballistic systems in vitro: the Swiss Lithoclast and the Combilith (Olympus). Measurements of the probe movement; i.e., maximum velocity and displacement, were performed using an optical high-speed technique based on a frame transfer camera. The Lithoclast and Combilith both achieve excellent probe velocities. However, the Lithoclast achieves equal velocity with less probe displacement.