The advent and development of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) have revolutionized the treatment of most renal and ureteral calculi. Some patients, however, still are managed most effectively by endoscopic means. In this context, percutaneous and transurethral ureteroscopic extractions of calculi have become well-established techniques in urology. Even with the most ingenious endoscopic equipment and techniques, the diameters of the working sheath used during percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and the dilated or undilated ureteral orifice during ureteroscopy present a natural limitation to simple mechanical stone extraction. Similarly, although use of ESWL has been reported for the treatment of bladder calculi, intracorporeal lithotripsy, under endoscopic control, remains the mainstay of treatment for vesical calculi. A wide range of endoscopic lithotriptors have become available for fragmentation of urinary calculi. They can be divided broadly into three categories: direct-contact mechanical lithotriptors, devices which work by means of a shock-wave effect, and laser lithotriptors. Special characteristics of each lithotriptor are summarized in Table 1. To better understand the different types of intracorporeal lithotriptors, the authors review the mechanism of action, advantages, limitations, and associated costs for capital and disposable items.