Organization and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Basis of Presentation	1. Organization and Basis of Presentation Shockwave Medical, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on June 17, 2009. The Company is primarily engaged in the development of Intravascular Lithotripsy (“IVL”) technology for the treatment of calcified plaque in patients with peripheral vascular, coronary vascular and heart valve disease. Built on a balloon catheter platform, the IVL technology uses lithotripsy to disrupt both superficial and deep vascular calcium, while minimizing soft tissue injury, and an integrated angioplasty balloon to dilate blockages at low pressures, restoring blood flow. In 2016, the Company began commercial and manufacturing operations, and began selling catheters based on the IVL technology. The Company’s headquarters are in Santa Clara, California. The Company is located and operates primarily in the United States and has a subsidiary in Germany. Need for Additional Capital The Company has incurred significant losses and has negative cash flows from operations. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $227.8 million. Management expects to continue to incur additional substantial losses for the foreseeable future. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $215.3 million, which are available to fund future operations. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2020, will be sufficient for the Company to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from the date the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company’s future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including its growth rate, the timing and extent of its spending to support research and development activities, the timing and cost of establishing additional sales and marketing capabilities and the scope, duration and continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk and Uncertainties The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties as a result of the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many uncertainties regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the Company is continuing to closely monitor the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of its business, including how it is impacting and how it may continue to impact its customers, patients that would benefit from procedures utilizing the Company’s products, employees, suppliers, vendors, business partners and distribution channels. The capital markets and economies worldwide continue to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including U.S. and global economic recessions. As such the Company's future results of operations and liquidity may continue to be adversely impacted by a variety of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including those discussed or referred to in the section entitled “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. As of the date of issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may materially impact the Company's financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations is uncertain. Given the ongoing uncertainty of the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is currently unable to accurately estimate the scale and duration of the impact on its business, including procedure volumes, clinical activities and product development, and by extension the Company’s financial results.

Organization and Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

Shockwave Medical, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on June 17, 2009. The Company is primarily engaged in the development of Intravascular Lithotripsy (“IVL”) technology for the treatment of calcified plaque in patients with peripheral vascular, coronary vascular and heart valve disease. Built on a balloon catheter platform, the IVL technology uses lithotripsy to disrupt both superficial and deep vascular calcium, while minimizing soft tissue injury, and an integrated angioplasty balloon to dilate blockages at low pressures, restoring blood flow.

In 2016, the Company began commercial and manufacturing operations, and began selling catheters based on the IVL technology. The Company’s headquarters are in Santa Clara, California. The Company is located and operates primarily in the United States and has a subsidiary in Germany.

Need for Additional Capital

The Company has incurred significant losses and has negative cash flows from operations. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $227.8 million. Management expects to continue to incur additional substantial losses for the foreseeable future.

As of September 30, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $215.3 million, which are available to fund future operations. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2020, will be sufficient for the Company to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from the date the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company’s future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including its growth rate, the timing and extent of its spending to support research and development activities, the timing and cost of establishing additional sales and marketing capabilities and the scope, duration and continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties as a result of the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many uncertainties regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the Company is continuing to closely monitor the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of its business, including how it is impacting and how it may continue to impact its customers, patients that would benefit from procedures utilizing the Company’s products, employees, suppliers, vendors, business partners and distribution channels. The capital markets and economies worldwide continue to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including U.S. and global economic recessions. As such the Company's future results of operations and liquidity may continue to be adversely impacted by a variety of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including those discussed or referred to in the section entitled “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

As of the date of issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may materially impact the Company's financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations is uncertain. Given the ongoing uncertainty of the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is currently unable to accurately estimate the scale and duration of the impact on its business, including procedure volumes, clinical activities and product development, and by extension the Company’s financial results.