David T. Blackstock and kidney stone lithotripsy

Abstract

For the past 25 years, David Blackstock served as External Advisor to an NIH Program Project Grant (PPG) dedicated to improving shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) of kidney stones. Invented in the 1980s, SWL revolutionized stone management, eliminating the need for open surgery. As a truly noninvasive surgery, SWL remains the flagship of medical acoustic therapies. Study of its engineering, bioeffects, and physical mechanisms of action helped make SWL safer and more effective and led to new modalities of diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound. Dr. Blackstock’s role in this effort cannot be overstated. He was a regular participant in our series of in-depth, two-day, semiannual meetings where in addition to reviewing new data related to his areas of expertise in shock wave propagation and nonlinear acoustics he absorbed, dissected, and eloquently critiqued research in the broad array of fields (e.g., clinical urology, renal vascular physiology and pathology, fracture mechanics, and more) otherwise unrelated to his experience. Dr. Blackstock had the ability to learn on the spot and then add incisive, valuable suggestions based on his expertise, intuition, and critical thinking. He kept us focused. He elevated our thinking. He stimulated our creativity and encouraged us toward new ideas. Work supported by NIH-P01-DK043881.