Kidney stones, a prevalent and painful condition, may soon be treated more effectively with a new magnetic gel that enhances removal techniques. Traditional methods of treating kidney stones often involve repeated surgeries, which can be both invasive and damaging.
Kidney stones form when minerals crystallize in urine and can become lodged in the kidneys or ureters, causing significant pain. Current treatment options typically involve breaking the stones into smaller pieces using lasers or ultrasound waves. These fragments are then retrieved one at a time using a wire basket that is maneuvered through the urethra, a process that can lead to tissue damage and often leaves behind stone fragments, with about 40 percent of cases experiencing this issue.
In response to the limitations of existing methods, Joseph Liao and his team at Stanford University have developed a magnetic gel that coats kidney stone fragments. This innovation is paired with a magnetic wire that was initially tested in a laboratory setting to capture these fragments. Recent experiments involving pigs revealed promising results.
The researchers inserted multiple human kidney stone fragments into the kidneys of four pigs and subsequently injected the organs with the magnetic gel. By utilizing a magnetic wire inserted through the urethra, they successfully retrieved multiple stone fragments simultaneously, contrasting sharply with the conventional method of one-at-a-time retrieval.
“It”s sort of like using a stick to fish out a snot full of stone fragments, so you can remove a large amount of them in one go,” Liao explained. This approach not only minimizes tissue damage by reducing the number of times surgeons must enter the kidneys but also has the potential to entirely clear fragments, as the magnetic device is capable of capturing pieces of any size.
The implications of this technique are significant, as it could lower the risk of new stones forming and decrease the need for subsequent surgical interventions. Veronika Magdanz from the University of Waterloo, who did not participate in the study, remarked, “It”s a very promising approach. Anything that increases the collection success of the stones and picks up more pieces at a time is helpful.”
Encouragingly, none of the pigs exhibited adverse effects from the magnetic gel, indicating that it is non-toxic and safe for use. After refining the method through additional studies on pigs, the research team plans to initiate human trials within approximately one year, according to Liao.
