An increase in the prevalence of urolithiasis to 5%, i.e.
an increase of 25 percent within 20 years, was ascertained
in Germany in 2000 [1].
The further development of instrumental technique
towards extremely thin and even flexible ureteroscopes
as well as modern lithotripsy procedures with various
energy sources has once again placed special emphasis
on endoscopic and percutaneous minimally invasive
techniques [2].
One endoscopic procedure is endourologic lithotripsy
in which the stone is destroyed in the ureter. Sometimes
the stone is simultaneously stabilized by a stone basket.
These baskets are made of nitinol a shape memory alloy
of nickel and titanium (melting point ~ 1300°C) [3]. This