Lithotripsy

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lithotripsy \Lith"o*trip`sy\ (l[i^]th"[-o]*tr[i^]p`s[y^]), n.
     [Litho- + Gr. tri`bein to rub, grind: cf. F. lithotripsie.]
     (Surg.)
     The operation of crushing a stone in the bladder or urethra
     to reduce it to particles small enough to be voided;
     lithotrity. It may be performed with an instrument called


     lithotriptor or lithotrite (also called a lithoclast); or,
     more recently, may be accomplished by devices using
     ultrasonic waves to fragment the stones.
     [1913 Webster]