Storz Medical Radial Shockwave Revision Kits: Everything you need to know!

by Kyle Lee, O.T. Reg (Ont.)

Regular maintenance of your Storz radial shockwave device is essential to ensure it delivers consistent, effective treatments. Because of how shockwave therapy works, some components of the unit naturally wear out over time. The most common piece of upkeep on a radial shockwave device is the revision kit located inside the Falcon or Ultra handpiece of your Storz Medical device.

One of the biggest advantages of owning a Storz Medical radial shockwave device is how quickly the revision kit can be replaced. In most cases it takes only minutes, resulting in virtually no downtime for your clinic. Even if a replacement is needed mid-treatment, it can be done on the spot — unlike many competing systems on the market. That's why we always recommend clinicians keep a spare revision kit on hand at all times.

How Long Does a Storz Revision Kit Last?

A new revision kit is designed to last for approximately one million pulses. With routine maintenance and regular cleaning, your revision kit may get more hits than that without compromising treatment quality, though actual lifespan depends largely on how consistently it's cleaned.

Signs Your Revision Kit Needs Replacing

Here are some telltale signs that your revision kit may need replacement:

• During treatment you notice the frequency of the pressure waves changing, stuttering, or skipping.
• The bullet (projectile) is sticking in the tube.
• The pulses from the radial pressure wave device don't feel or sound consistent.
• When physically inspecting the metal bullet, you notice a fair amount of wear compared to a newer one.

Try Cleaning It First

If you're experiencing any of the signs above, your first step is to use the cleaning brush and follow the steps to clean the tube and projectile. These steps can be found in your manual, or from what you were shown during your in-service with Remington Medical. If cleaning doesn't resolve the issue, a new revision kit is most likely necessary. Putting in a fresh revision kit gives you peace of mind as a clinician that you're delivering quality treatments.

What's Included in a Storz Revision Kit

The dual revision kit consists of 2 tubes, 2 projectiles (what many refer to as the "bullet"), and 2 packs of O-rings. Remington Medical offers the best pricing on revision kits in Canada, and you can purchase online with fast, free shipping right to your clinic.

Falcon vs. Ultra Revision Kit: What's the Difference?

The Storz Ultra revision kit is the original option, designed for older Storz devices, and features a longer tube than the Falcon kit. The Falcon revision kit was introduced later alongside the newer Falcon handpiece, allowing treatments to be delivered at lower pressures down to 0.3 bar. It's the shorter of the two options, and the majority of modern Storz units use the Falcon revision kit.

How to Tell Which Revision Kit You Need

The quickest way to check is to measure your existing tube:

• The Falcon revision kit tube measures 14.6 cm.
• The tube in the Ultra revision kit measures 17.5 cm.

If your handpiece can go down to 0.3 bar, you have a Falcon handpiece and will need a Falcon revision kit. You can also identify your kit visually: if your handpiece has a chrome ring on the barrel, you'll need the Ultra revision kit; the Falcon version does not have that ring.

Another way to tell is by handpiece colour and style. If your handpiece is the older style (grey and blue, or grey-on-grey with a chrome body) you'll need the Ultra revision kit. These handpieces were paired with the first Masterpuls® MP50, MP100, and MP200 Elite units, which had a square-shaped design.

Which Storz Devices Use Each Kit

If you have a Duolith SD1 radial shockwave, the Masterplus ONE, or a newer Masterplus® shockwave (MP50 Ultra, MP100 Ultra, MP200 Ultra, Masterpuls Ultra+, or D-ACTOR® 100), you may have either the Ultra or Falcon handpiece depending on when you purchased the unit — use the checks above to confirm which one.

For the Masterpuls ONE portable shockwave device, which uses the Sparrow handpiece, the correct replacement is the Falcon revision kit. This unit is built with the Falcon handpiece, which operates at lower pressure ranges and requires the shorter Falcon-style revision kit for proper performance and compatibility.

Does This Work With a Chattanooga RPW Shockwave?

Yes. Certain Chattanooga shockwave devices, such as the RPW and RPW2, use the Storz handpiece, and Storz revision kits will fit into these handpieces. Follow the same steps above to determine which kit (Falcon or Ultra) is right for your unit.

How to Replace Your Revision Kit

Watch our video on how to change over a revision kit and the seals. Tip: you'll only need one revision kit (the kit comes with two), the wrench and small hex/Allen key provided when you bought your Storz shockwave device, and a few minutes of your time.

Still Not Sure? We've Got You Covered

If a revision kit change didn't fix your device's issue, or you're having trouble with anything service-related, Remington Medical has a full Storz-authorized service centre. Always ask for an authorized, factory-trained Storz technician as they know exactly what to look for and will have the parts to repair your unit or handpiece. Contact us and we'll walk you through finding the right revision kit for your device.

You can also purchase your Falcon or Ultra revision kit for your Storz Medical device right here with fast, free shipping across Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions