In Vivo Feasibility Test of a New Flexible Ureteroscopic Robotic System, easyUretero, for Renal Stone Retrieval in a Porcine Model
- Affiliations
-
- 1ROEN Surgical Inc., Daejeon, Korea
- 2Department of Urology, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
- 3Department of Urology, Severance Hospital, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 4Robotics Program, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
- 5Department of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 6Center of Evidence Based Medicine, Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- 7Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
Abstract
- Purpose
Using a new robotic endoscopic platform system developed for retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) called easyUretero (ROEN Surgical Inc.), we evaluated the feasibility and safety of renal stone retrieval in a porcine model.
Materials and Methods
Six female pigs were used for our in vivo study. First, 0.3-cm-sized phantom stones were inserted into the kidneys of each pig via the ureteral access sheath. Next, renal stone retrieval was attempted using manual RIRS in three pigs and robotic RIRS in three pigs. Three surgeons performed extraction of 10 stones in each session.
Results
The mean stone retrieval time by manual RIRS was significantly shorter than that by robotic RIRS (399.9±185.4 sec vs. 1127.6±374.5 sec, p=0.001). In contrast, the questionnaire regarding usability showed high satisfaction in the surgeons’ fatigue category for surgeons using robotic RIRS. The radiation exposure dose was also lower in robotic RIRS than in manual RIRS (0.14 μSv vs. 45.5 μSv). Postoperative ureteral injury assessment revealed Grade 0 in manual RIRS cases and Grades 0, 1, and 2 in robotic RIRS cases.
Conclusion
The easyUretero system is a new robotic RIRS system that was developed in Korea. The results of the present study suggest that using easyUretero for stone retrieval during RIRS is safe and ergonomic.