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Evaluation of flexible ureteroscope with an omni-directional bending tip, using a JOYSTICK unit (URF-Y0016): an ex-vivo study

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Abstract

Purpose

To compare the range of reach of our newly designed omni-directional ureteroscope (URF-Y0016), compared to the commonly used URF-P6, FlexX2s, and LithoVue™ scopes, in the upper, middle, and lower calyces in an ex-vivo pyelocaliceal model.

Methods

We fabricated a three-dimensional pyelocaliceal model of the upper, middle, and lower pole calyces using urethane and acrylic resin. The inner surface of the dome of each calyx was engraved with reference lines along eight directions, set at 10° of latitude from the top to the base of the dome, and at angles of 0–90°, to precisely determine the range of reach of each scope. The main feature of the URF-Y0016 scope is the omni-directional bending of the tip of the flexible ureteroscope, with the control of these four directions integrated into a handgun-type control unit with a joystick. The range of reach within each calyx was measured by four expert surgeons.

Results

The URF-Y0016 scope provided a greater range of reach along all directions in the lower pole calyx compared to URF-P6, FlexX2s, and LithoVue™ scopes (p < 0.001), particularly along the anterior–posterior direction in the lower lobe calyx. However, the URF-Y0016 scope did not influence the improvement of reach range in the upper and middle pole calyx compared to URF-P6, FlexX2s, and LithoVue™ scopes (p = 0.08, p = 0.296).

Conclusion

The novel design of the URF-Y0016 could improve treatment outcomes for calyceal stones in the lower pole in practice.

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Abbreviations

SWL:

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy

PCNL:

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

RIRS:

Retrograde intrarenal surgery

EAU:

European Association of Urology

SFR:

Stone-free rate

IPA:

Infundibulopelvic angle

IL:

Infundibular length

IW:

Infundibular width

CPH:

Caliceal pelvic height

TURBT:

Transurethral bladder tumor resection

TURP:

Transurethral prostate resection

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Acknowledgements

None in all authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, Department of Surgery Related, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan

    T. Inoue & M. Fujisawa

  2. Department of Urology and Stone Center, Hara Genitourinary Hospital, Tyuou-ku, Kitanagasa-tori 5-7-17, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0012, Japan

    T. Inoue

  3. Department of Urology, Gyotoku General Hospital, Chiba, Japan

    S. Okada

  4. Department of Nephro-Urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan

    S. Hamamoto

  5. Department of Urology, Clinic of Hachinohe Koyo, Aomori, Japan

    H. Miura

  6. Department of Urology, Ohguchi Higashi General Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan

    J. Matsuzaki

  7. Department of Urology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    M. Tambo & H. Fukuhara

  8. Department of Urology and Andrology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan

    T. Matsuda

  9. Department of Urology, Bremen Street Urology and Nephrology Clinic, Kanagawa, Japan

    K. Nutahara

Authors
  1. T. Inoue
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  2. S. Okada
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  3. S. Hamamoto
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  4. H. Miura
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  5. J. Matsuzaki
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  6. M. Tambo
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  7. H. Fukuhara
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  8. M. Fujisawa
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  9. T. Matsuda
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  10. K. Nutahara
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Contributions

TI: protocol/project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. SO: protocol/project development. SH: protocol/project development. HM: data collection. JM: data collection. MT: data collection. HF: protocol/project development. MF: protocol/project development. TM: protocol/project development. KN: protocol/project development.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Inoue.

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Conflict of interest

Olympus funded, and lent the equipment for this study.

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Inoue, T., Okada, S., Hamamoto, S. et al. Evaluation of flexible ureteroscope with an omni-directional bending tip, using a JOYSTICK unit (URF-Y0016): an ex-vivo study. World J Urol 39, 209–215 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03151-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03151-w

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