title: Electrode performance beyond the manufacturer's recommended lifespan using the Dornier MFL 5000 lithotripter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Electrodes used by the Dornier MFL 500 lithotripter have a specified lifespan, after which, the manufacturer recommends replacing the electrode before continuing the treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether electrodes continue to function effectively beyond 100% consumption by measuring the pressure output of electrodes up to 300% consumption or until electrode failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed new, refurbished, and twice-refurbished electrodes to compare their respective performances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rather than a decrease, there was a trend toward increased pressure output beyond 100% electrode consumption, with no drop in pressure prior to 300% consumption or electrode failure. All three types of electrodes functioned adequately above 100% consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations suggest that discarding the electrode before the completion of the treatment or electrode failure is not warranted. Using a single electrode rather than multiple electrodes to complete a treatment has the potential to save both time and cost.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Saint Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto, Canada. rjohn.honey@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Honey
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tariq
mesh_terms: D004566:Electrodes / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors