Vibratory Expulsive Therapy Vest for Urinary Stone Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for renal colic, such as hydration and medical expulsive therapy, are ineffective in expediting stone passage and managing pain, leading to prolonged ED visits and repeated radiation exposure, with limited pharmacological options available for patients with ureteral stones.
Innovation Solution
Vibrational expulsive therapy (VET) involves circumferentially administering vibrations to the torso using a vest, which can facilitate stone passage and alleviate pain, with adjustable parameters like frequency, duration, and pressure, and can be administered without expert supervision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If aggressive intravenous and oral hydration is used to increase renal blood flow and urine production, then theoretically stone passage is facilitated, but renal colic pain increases due to further distension of the ureter, renal pelvis and/or capsule
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/fluid dynamic approach of aggressive hydration with a vibrational mechanical approach. The vibrational device applies controlled mechanical oscillations to the renal region, facilitating stone passage through vibration-induced loosening and propulsion rather than through increased urine flow and distension, thereby avoiding pain while maintaining stone passage efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of stone expulsion from chemical/osmotic (hydration-induced urine flow) to mechanical vibrational. By applying specific frequency and amplitude vibrations to the renal region, the device alters the mechanical environment to facilitate stone movement without the harmful distension effects of aggressive hydration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If NSAIDs and narcotics are used for short term pain relief, then pain is controlled, but stone passage is not facilitated and renal impairment risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological pain management with a mechanical vibrational approach that simultaneously addresses both pain control and stone passage. The vibrational device mechanically facilitates stone movement while the controlled vibration intensity provides analgesic effects, eliminating the need for NSAIDs and narcotics that only provide pain relief without facilitating stone passage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If alpha-blockers are used for medical expulsive therapy, then side effect profile is relatively low, but efficacy in facilitating stone passage is unproven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological medical expulsive therapy with a direct mechanical vibrational system. The vibrational device applies controlled oscillations to the renal region, providing reliable stone passage facilitation through proven mechanical action rather than unproven pharmacological mechanisms, while maintaining a favorable safety profile similar to alpha-blockers.
4Measurement precision
If repeated CT scans are used for monitoring stone passage, then diagnostic accuracy is maintained, but radiation exposure exceeds safety thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces repeated ionizing radiation CT scans with ultrasound imaging technology. Ultrasound provides real-time, radiation-free visualization of stone position and passage, maintaining diagnostic accuracy for monitoring stone movement while completely eliminating the cumulative radiation exposure hazard associated with repeated CT scanning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
VET effectively decreases pain and promotes ureteral stone passage, offering a low-cost, minimally invasive alternative to conventional therapies, potentially reducing ED visits and radiation exposure by facilitating faster stone passage and improving patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
Vibrational expulsive therapy (VET) involves circumferentially administering vibrations to the torso using a vest, which can facilitate stone passage
Implementation Method 2
VET effectively decreases pain and promotes ureteral stone passage
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure pertains to methods and devices for administering a vibration expulsion therapy (VET) to a subject to expulse a urinary stone. The method comprises circumferentially administering vibrations to a subject's torso to facilitate movement of a urinary stone through the urinary system or to alleviate pain associated with a urinary stone. In certain embodiments, the method comprises circumferentially administering vibrations to a subject via a vest configured to envelope and tightly fit contours on the subject's torso, particular, the subject's lower torso and cover the subject's kidneys, ureter, and/or urinary bladder. Further provided is a system comprising a processor and a computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to actuate a vest placed on the subject's torso to circumferentially administer vibrations to the subject's torso or a portion thereof.