Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the use of extracorporeal shock waves to shatter stones in the body after focusing, so that they can be eliminated with urine. Since the introduction of the first Titan lithotripter in Germany in the 1980s, ESWL has been used in millions of cases abroad and has become the conventional method of choice for the treatment of urolithiasis. China has also accumulated nearly 100,000 cases of treatment experience. This technology has the advantages of safe, reliable, painless, excellent lithotripsy effect and fast discharge of the broken stones. The treatment principle of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is to focus on the stone and break it into sand, which is discharged through the urethra with urine to achieve the treatment purpose. When the shock wave encounters a medium with a large difference in density, such as from the soft tissue to the stone, the resistance suddenly increases, generating a huge pressure on the waveward side of the stone; when the shock wave runs out from the back side of the stone, the resistance suddenly decreases and generates a huge pulling force. The stone will be broken into fine particles after repeatedly pulling and pressing in this way. However, when the shock wave passes through the muscular viscera, which is about the same density as water, this effect does not occur. It is true that the shock wave can damage the kidney, but it is mild and reversible and can be recovered after two weeks. As long as the indications are well chosen and the operation is standardized, the damage will be minimal.