New Devices for Kidney Stone Management

Authors and Disclosures

Russell S. Terry, Patrick S. Whelan and Michael E. Lipkin

Duke Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center, Division of Urologic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Correspondence to
Michael E. Lipkin, Duke Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center, Division of Urologic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3167, Room 1573 White Zone, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Tel: +1 919 681 5506; fax: +1 919 681 5507; e-mail: michael.lipkin@duke.edu

Conflicts of interest
R.S.T. and P.S.W. report no conflicts of interest. M.E.L. serves as a consultant for Boston Scientific and Lumenis.

Sidebar

Key Points

• Pulse modulation techniques represent the newest iteration of improvements in Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy and are reported to improve energy transmission through water as well as reduce stone retropulsion.

• The thulium fiber laser is a novel technology with promising features and which may be available for clinical use in the near future.

• The newest generation mechanical lithotrites which couple highly ablative ultrasonic and ballistic energy with effective suction capability represent significant improvements in stone clearance efficiency compared older generation single-energy devices.

• With the increase in popularity of mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy, many traditional devices and products used for lithotripsy are being miniaturized or repurposed for use in these procedures where space is at a premium.