40 years ago, on 7 February 1980, the first treatment of a kidney stone patient with shock waves was performed at the Department of Urology of Munich University Hospital based at the Grosshardern campus. Several STORZ MEDICAL employees from the company’s research, development and marketing departments were present to witness the historic event, which ushered in a new era in medical technology: the era of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).