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Valencia, Spain – A groundbreaking prototype device, dubbed Lithovortex, is poised to transform the treatment of kidney stones, offering a non-invasive and potentially pain-free alternative to current procedures. Developed by a collaborative team from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the La Fe Health Research Institute (IIS La Fe), and the Biomechanics Institute of Valencia, Lithovortex utilizes ultrasound technology to break down kidney stones into easily passable fragments.
The core innovation of Lithovortex lies in its use of vortex beams, a novel type of acoustic wave. “We could draw an analogy with a sound whirlpool, where the wave curls and spins on itself when it focuses on the stone,” explains Noé Jiménez, a researcher at the I3M Institute (UPV-CSIC). “These beams can produce shear forces on kidney stones more efficiently than a conventional beam. It is as if they were to give a microscopic pinch inside the stone, and that pinch causes the stone to fragment into very fine pieces, breaking down into sand that is finally expelled through the urethra.”
According to preliminary tests, Lithovortex can halve the time required to break up kidney stones compared to existing methods. Its compact and portable design also holds the promise of making kidney stone treatment an outpatient procedure, eliminating the need for bulky equipment and hospital stays.
The device features a therapeutic head that generates high-intensity acoustic vortices, mounted on an automated robotic arm, and is integrated with an imaging system for precise treatment guidance. “The advantage of using this type of beam is that, as they are so efficient, they allow the amplitude of the wave to be halved, and this also reduces the likelihood of producing lesions and pain in healthy tissue,” adds Dr. César David Vera Donoso, from the Urology Department at La Fe Hospital and head of the Integrated Translational Urological Research Center of Valencia (NITIUV) at the IIS La Fe.
While the primary application is the fragmentation of kidney stones, researchers believe that the technology could also be used to address other calcifications, such as aortic valve calcification.
The I3M (UPV-CSIC) team has successfully manufactured and validated the device using artificial stones. Ex vivo validation with real stones has also been completed in collaboration with the Lithotripsy Unit of La Fe Hospital. The next phase of development will involve validation in an animal model, scheduled for next year.
This innovative technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from kidney stones, offering a less invasive and more efficient treatment option.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information provided by the Technical University of Valencia. Lithovortex is currently in the prototype phase and has not yet been approved for clinical use. The information presented should not be interpreted as medical advice. Further research and clinical trials are necessary to determine the safety and efficacy of this device in humans.
