Material fatigue testing of a new intraureteral wire stent (Zebrastent)

Ureteral stenting plays a vital role in urology but still entails complications such as migration, encrustation, and blockage. We present our experience with a novel ureteral stent (Zebrastent) that had the complication of breakage which we explored by fatigue testing.

We developed a device that can reproduce the movements of the Zebrastent in vitro (bending and cranio-caudal movements). We estimated the number of movements of the stent during 1 day and we thus calculated how much stress would result if it were in place for 9 months.

We estimate that the stent will not break when in place up to 9 months in a kidney with average curvature. However, the stent broke when it was used in a kidney with a sharper-than-normal curvature.

The Zebrastent may be a valuable addition to the armamentarium of the endourologist, provided that the appropriate size is selected.