An active artificial ureter with autonomous energy supply.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Urology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Long-term ureteral replacement requires prostheses capable of overcoming bladder outflow resistance.
• Existing active prostheses may involve foreign energy sources, potentially increasing patient burden.
• Physiological ureteral function involves active pumping against resistance at specific flow rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an active artificial ureter prosthesis.
• To utilize intra-abdominal pressure fluctuations from respiratory movements as an energy source.
• To assess the prosthesis's applicability under physiological conditions for ureteral replacement.

Main Methods:

• Design of an active prosthesis driven by respiratory-induced intra-abdominal pressure changes.
• In vitro testing to evaluate pumping capacity against outflow resistance.
• Comparison of prosthesis performance with parameters of physiological peristalsis.

Main Results:

• The active prosthesis successfully pumped against outflow resistance at physiological flow rates (0.2-2.0 ml/min).
• In vitro results demonstrated applicability under physiological conditions.
• The respiratory-driven mechanism avoids the need for external energy supply.

Conclusions:

• The developed active artificial ureter prosthesis is applicable for long-term ureteral replacement.
• This novel concept offers a potentially less burdensome solution for patients compared to prostheses requiring foreign energy sources.
• Harnessing respiratory movements provides an intrinsic power source for active prostheses.