Non-invasive procedure

A medical procedure is defined as non-invasive when no break in the skin is created and there is no contact with the mucosa, or skin break, or internal body cavity beyond a natural or artificial body orifice.

For example, deep palpation and percussion are non-invasive but a rectal examination is invasive.

Likewise, examination of the ear-drum or inside the nose or a wound dressing change all fall outside the definition of non-invasive procedure.

There are many non-invasive procedures, ranging from simple observation, to specialised forms of surgery, such as radiosurgery.

[medical citation needed] Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a non-invasive treatment of stones in the kidney,[1] gallbladder or liver, using an acoustic pulse.