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Expert discusses innovations in single-use ureteroscopes for stones
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"A lot of people are using [single-use ureteroscopes] nowadays, and part of it is because it really enhances our ability to provide guaranteed care, because we don't have to rely on the reusability of scopes," says Perry Xu, MD.
In the endourology space, there is a “buzz” surrounding single-use ureteroscopes, according to Perry Xu, MD.
“A lot of people are using them nowadays, and part of it is because it really enhances our ability to provide guaranteed care, because we don't have to rely on the reusability of scopes. We don't have to rely on sterile processing. We can just take it off the shelf and use it right then and there,” said Xu, assistant professor of urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois
In an interview with Urology Times®, Xu discussed several new scopes available for use.
“PUSEN has made a flexible ureteroscope that has a channel in there that you can suction out pieces. It's called direct in-scope suction. That can really help with removing any residual fragments that you have dusted,” Xu said.
In addition, there is Boston Scientific’s LithoVue. “This is a scope that has an ability to actually measure intra renal pressures, which, in theory, would reduce risks of sepsis as well as pain if you keep the pressures low,” Xu said.
He also mentioned a 6.3 Fr scope from HugeMed. “By being the smallest scope available on the market, and providing an ability to reach tight spaces, especially when you're trying to do a ureteroscopy in somebody who has not had a stent before, and you're trying to do it all in 1 sitting, I think that that scope has added a lot of benefit,” Xu said.
Next, Xu touched on Richard Wolf’s RIWO D-URS. “This one has a semi rigid and flexible ureteroscope all in one, and it has 2 channels: an outflow channel and inflow channel. They've really merged and innovated the semi-rigid with flexible ureteroscope…And, it has a completely novel way of holding the scope,” Xu said.
Finally, Xu highlighted the second-generation CVAC system from Calyxo. The CVAC, Xu said, is “a ureteroscope that you can drive into the kidney itself and look around. It has 4 active jets of irrigation to disrupt stones, and then has passive and active suction so it can actually remove the stone fragments.”
