Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is currently used clinically to destroy kidney stones by applying focused shock waves to the kidney. Shock waves successfully destroy the stone, however in the process, also damage healthy kidney tissue. A mechanism that appears to play an important role in these processes is cavitation. Research at APL focuses on restricting the region of these effects. One method is to fire two lithotripters simultaneously facing each other. The goal is to identify areas of damage by treating blood with two pulses compared to one pulse. Our hypothesis is that blood damage will be concentrated to a much smaller area using two pulse shock waves. It appears that when two reflectors are facing each other and are simultaneously firing sparks, that the cavitation is reduced to 10% as compared to the conventional method. To test this hypothesis relative hemolysis levels in treated blood will be assessed with a spectrophotometer. Hemolysis is a good indicator of cavitation damage in the body. The comparison of data will help us understand patterns of how using two pulse SWL will behave in the body. The project is unique in a sense that the blood experiments will be created and carried out from experimental design to evaluation of data by the student. It involves designing the experiments, working with blood, treating blood with shock waves in a lithotripter and analysis of data. Data will be presented in Excel, and diagrams will be designed by the student using Adobe Illustrator. There is a lot of opportunity to learn about lithotripsy, shock waves, kidney stones, and experimental design that would provide the student with an excellent introduction to research.