Apparatus for generating shock waves with piezoelectric fibers integrated in a composite

1. An apparatus for generating shock waves directed at an area of a human or animal body to be treated comprising a plurality of separate piezoelectric modules arranged next to one another on a carrier wherein each module is a spatial unit and includes a plurality of piezoelectric fibers distributed and integrated lengthwise between respective electrical terminals in a continuous composite material between the plurality of piezoelectric fibers, a voltage source electrically connected to at least one electrical terminal and a coupling membrane defining a volume filled with a shock wave transmission medium between the piezoelectric fibers and the coupling membrane, wherein said piezoelectric fibers point toward the coupling membrane.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules are electrically interconnected and controllable as a module group apart from one or more other module groups comprised of other modules from the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the carrier is a pipe-shaped cylindrical segment with the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules arranged providing a horizontal cylindrical focus line.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different sizes from one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules of different sizes have different forms of radiating surfaces.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different forms of radiating surfaces.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules are electrically individually controllable.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different sizes from one another.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules of different sizes have different forms of radiating surfaces.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different forms of radiating surfaces.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said carrier includes a geometry selected from the group consisting of planar, spherical and cylindrical.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the carrier is a pipe-shaped cylindrical segment with the modules arranged providing a horizontal cylindrical focus line.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different sizes from one another.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules of different sizes have different forms of radiating surfaces.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different forms of radiating surfaces.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules are at least one of electrically interconnected and controllable as a module group apart from one or more other module groups comprised of other modules from the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules and electrically individually controllable.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different sizes from one another.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules of different sizes have different forms of radiating surfaces.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of separate piezoelectric modules have different forms of radiating surfaces.