Dr. Wolf on the CVAC System for steerable ureteroscopic renal evacuation

J. Stuart Wolf, Jr., MD, FACS

Recently, J. Stuart Wolf, Jr., MD, FACS, of Dell Medical School in Texas presented an international webinar for the Endourological Society about the Steerable Ureteroscopic Renal Evacuation with CVAC Aspiration System from Calyxo, Inc. This is the second generation of the device, which received FDA clearance in February 2024.¹

In the video, Wolf demonstrates his first 3 cases with the device, and there was a lively discussion following the presentation with questions from the 2 moderators and the online participants.

Click to watch the video here.

The revolutionary CVAC device is a single-use aspiration ureteroscope that integrates ureteroscopy, dedicated irrigation, and a 7 Fr vacuum channel, allowing aspiration of fragments up to 2.3 mm. The laser fiber is positioned in the vacuum channel using a flexible laser bridge that is also used to clear dust and/or fragments from the tip. There are multiple dedicated irrigation nozzles around the perimeter of the tip, such that a vortex of fluid is created that very effectively and passively aspirates stone dust as laser lithotripsy progresses. This keeps the operative field clear and allows the surgeon to efficiently perform lithotripsy without the stone dust interfering with vision. Once lithotripsy is completed, the surgeon removes the laser bridge and then takes advantage of the full 7 Fr channel and a regulated increase of irrigation to actively aspirate larger fragments using surgeon-controlled suction. This is a low-pressure system owing to the large outflow channel. The device facilitates the efficient achievement of an immediate stone free status.

As the presentation neared completion, Wolf remarked, “I cannot overstate the impact of this device on my management of kidney stone patients.”

Reference:

1. Calyxo announces FDA Clearance for new, redesigned CVAC System. News release. Calyxo. March 26, 2024. Accessed April 22, 2024. https://calyxoinc.com/news/calyxo-fda-approved-cvac-system-kidney-stones/