Ultrasound could help fight kidney stones
Wednesday 1st February 2012
Kidney stones are a painful complaint for anyone that comes into contact with them but researchers have now found a new way to combat the problem.
For years the common method of getting rid of the condition was to laser the stones into smaller pieces or pass them naturally through the urine.
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute is developing an ultrasound designed so that should astronauts contract kidney stones on a mission it could be effectively dealt with.
Due to the environment in space astronauts find it difficult to keep hydrated and the salts in the urine can form stones quicker than on Earth. The ultrasound treatment allows the substance to be "pushed out" and researchers believe it can be beneficial to everyone, not just astronauts.
Dr. Michael Bailey, from the University of Washington, said: "We have a capability that uses ultrasound waves coming right through the skin to push small stones or pieces of stones toward the exit of the kidney, so they will naturally pass, avoiding surgery."
The NHS estimates that in the UK ten to 20 per cent of men and three to five per cent of women are affected by kidney stones.
Contact the specialist recruitment company, Mediplacements, to see the latest biomedical science jobs.
Written by Martin Lambert
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