Efficiency and efficacy of different intracorporeal ultrasonic lithotripsy units on a synthetic stone model.
OBJECTIVE
The efficiency and efficacy of the available intracorporeal ultrasonic lithotripters were compared in a stone model experiment.


METHODS
Plaster of Paris (POP) stone phantoms having ratios of 1:1, 1.5:1, and 2:1 with water were fabricated into cubes of various hardnesses weighing an average of 24.6 g. The stones were immersed in water in a plastic container, and continuous irrigation through a rigid nephroscope was used. Ultrasonic lithotripters from ACMI, Olympus, Storz, and Wolf manufacturers were evaluated for efficacy in breaking up the three POP concentrations. Time to complete stone fragmentation, occurrence of probe or tubing occlusion, and probe overheating were evaluated.


RESULTS
Efficiency of fragmentation and time to fragmentation of the Storz lithotripter were significantly different from those of the Wolf (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively) and ACMI (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively) lithotripters. Comparison of the efficiency of fragmentation and time to fragmentation of the ACMI and Wolf lithotripters showed significant differences (p = 0.005 and p = 0.03, respectively) in favor of the Wolf device. The Olympus lithotriptor resulted in incomplete fragmentation of phantoms of all POP concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
The Storz ultrasonic lithotriptor was found to have the lowest fragmentation time and highest efficiency in the fragmentation of phantom stones.
Liatsikos
E N
EN
Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York 11042, USA.
Dinlenc
C Z
CZ
Fogarty
J D
JD
Kapoor
R
R
Bernardo
N O
NO
Smith
A D
AD
D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors
D002133:Calcium Sulfate