The StoneMaster stone extraction basket is part of INVAMED's urology portfolio, designed to support calculus capture and retrieval during ureteroscopic procedures. This overview summarizes the device's design concept for healthcare professionals; it does not replace the Instructions for Use (IFU).
What Is the StoneMaster Designed to Do?
StoneMaster is a stone extraction basket engineered to capture and retrieve urinary calculi during endourological procedures, particularly retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) performed with a flexible ureteroscope. The device is intended to offer grip, flexibility, and precision when engaging stones of varying size and location within the renal collecting system or ureter, with the goal of efficient retrieval while minimizing patient discomfort.
What Materials and Structural Design Does It Use?
The basket arms are constructed from nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy widely valued in endourology for its shape-memory and superelastic properties. This material selection is intended to provide durability and kink resistance, supporting consistent basket opening and closing across repeated capture attempts, including in tortuous ureteral or calyceal anatomy.
What Is the Hybrid Head Design?
StoneMaster features a three-arm hybrid head that combines a traditional basket function with a specialized grabber-tip element. This hybrid configuration is intended to allow the device to encase a stone efficiently while aiming to reduce the risk of mucosal trauma during engagement, compared to designs relying on a single capture mechanism.
What Handling Features Support the Working Channel?
The device incorporates guidewire-like handling characteristics, described as combining high shaft stiffness with a hyperflexible distal end. This combination is intended to streamline catheter manipulation and support device stability when navigating challenging angles within the collecting system. A Tuohy-Borst adapter and insertion aid are included, intended to simplify introduction into the working channel of a flexible ureteroscope and to function as a splash guard during use.
What Size Options Are Available?
StoneMaster is offered in two basket diameter options, intended to accommodate a range of stone sizes and anatomical variation encountered during ureteroscopic stone retrieval. Selection of basket diameter is generally based on the treating physician's assessment of stone size, location, and the working channel of the scope being used.
What General Procedural Considerations Apply?
Stone basket retrieval is generally performed under direct endoscopic visualization, often with fluoroscopic support, and technique should follow standard endourological principles to reduce the risk of ureteral injury during stone engagement and withdrawal. As with any endourological instrument, use carries inherent procedural risk, and device selection and technique remain at the discretion of the treating physician based on individual case factors. Clinicians should consult the applicable IFU for complete compatibility, sizing, and handling information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the advantage of a nitinol basket compared to stainless steel designs?
Nitinol's shape-memory and superelastic properties are widely recognized in endourology for supporting kink resistance and consistent basket deployment across repeated use, though material selection is one of several factors in device choice.
Is the hybrid basket-and-grabber design suitable for all stone types?
Device suitability depends on stone size, location, composition, and the specific clinical scenario, as assessed by the treating physician; clinicians should refer to the IFU for indicated use.
Does StoneMaster work with both flexible and semi-rigid ureteroscopes?
The device is described as designed for the working channel of flexible ureteroscopes; compatibility with specific scope types should be confirmed against the applicable product documentation.
Related INVAMED Resources
- Stone Basket Ureteroscopy: How Retrieval Works
- Who Is a Candidate for Ureteroscopy? FAQs
- Urology & Incontinence Management products
Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendation. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Product indications, availability, and regulatory status vary by country. Always refer to the official Instructions for Use (IFU) and consult a licensed physician for guidance specific to your situation. INVAMED devices are intended for use by trained healthcare professionals.