Ultrasonic Kidney Stone Treatment for Pet Cats and Marine Mammals

A research and engineering team is conducting human clinical trials of a noninvasive kidney stone treatment system that combines ultrasonic propulsion and burst wave lithotripsy technologies. Sending ultrasound waves through the skin and body, kidney stones are broken and the fragments are pushed out.
The human system has been modified to treat the much smaller anatomy and kidneys stones of pet cats. Upper urinary tract stones are increasingly prevalent in cats. Stones obstructing the ureter are a medical emergency requiring high-risk and high-cost surgeries.
To date, three cats with ureteral stones have been treated.
The all-in-one ultrasonic kidney stone management system has also been used to treat a dolphin and harbor seal.