The lithotriptor attempts to break up the stone with minimal collateral damage by using an externally-applied, focused, high-intensity acoustic pulse.

During active search, the acoustic pulse is emitted from the projector assembly.

In the mid 20th century, sonar systems were developed to allow the measurement of underwater distances using the two way travel time of an acoustic pulse.

From this narrow beam a two way travel time of the acoustic pulse is then established utilizing a bottom detection algorithm.

The devices send acoustic pulses straight down into the water, and the intensity of the returning echo is used to calculate the abundance of fish.

An echo-sounder sends an acoustic pulse directly downwards to the seabed and records the returned echo.

The sound pulse is generated by a transducer that emits an acoustic pulse and then "listens" for the return signal.

Usually, a typical magnitude value of the acoustic pulse will be small, and for long propagation nonlinear effects could become important.

The microphone contained a piezoelectrical crystal that rang at 100 kc under influence of the acoustic pulse.

And she stamped, too, a rhythmic thumping that sent acoustic pulses out through the hard rocky ground.