Researchers at Waterloo Engineering are leading an international team in the development of new technology to treat painful kidney stones in the urinary tract.
The technique features thin, flexible strips fitted with magnets, allowing them to be moved into position near uric acid kidney stones using a rotating magnet on the end of a robotic arm.
The spaghetti-like strips contain an enzyme called urease, which reduces the acidity of the surrounding urine and dissolves stones until they are small enough to pass naturally in a few days.
“There is currently no good treatment method available for this type of kidney stone,” said Dr. Veronika Magdanz, a professor of systems design engineering who heads the research project.
“Patients are typically prescribed painkillers and oral dissolving medication that provides slow relief over the course of weeks or months. And in urgent cases, when stones block the urine flow, they must be surgically removed.”
Go to Soft robots go right to the site of kidney stones for the full story.