In Vitro Comparison of Prototype Magnetic Tool with Conventional Nitinol Basket for Ureteroscopic Retrieval of Stone Fragments Rendered Paramagnetic with Iron Oxide Microparticles

PURPOSE: We developed a prototype magnetic tool for ureteroscopic extraction of magnetized stone particles. We compared its efficiency for retrieving magnetized calcium oxalate monohydrate stone particles with that of a conventional nitinol basket from the pelvi-collecting system of a bench top ureteroscopic simulator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Iron oxide microparticles were successfully bound to 1 to 1.5, 1.5 to 2 and 2 to 2.5 mm human calcium oxalate monohydrate stones. Several coated fragments of each size were implanted in the collecting system of a bench top ureteroscopic simulator. Five-minute timed stone extraction trials were performed for each fragment size using a back loaded 8Fr magnetic tool mounted on a 0.038-inch guidewire or a conventional basket. The median number of fragments retrieved per timed trial was compared for the magnetic tool vs the basket using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: For 1 to 1.5 mm fragments the median number retrieved within 5 minutes was significantly higher for the prototype magnetic tool than for the nitinol basket (9.5 vs 3.5, p = 0.03). For 1.5 to 2 mm fragments the magnetic tool was more efficient but the difference in the number of fragments retrieved was not statistically significant (9.5 vs 4.5, p = 0.19). For 2 to 2.5 mm fragments there was no difference between the instruments in the number retrieved (6 per group, p = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: The prototype magnetic tool improved the efficiency of retrieving stone particles rendered paramagnetic that were less than 2 mm but showed no advantage for larger fragments. This system has the potential to decrease the number of small retained fragments after ureteroscopic lithotripsy.