Assessment of urinary tract biomaterial encrustation using a modified Robbins device continuous flow model

Encrustation of biomaterials employed in the urinary tract remains a major problem resulting in obstruction or blockage of catheters and stents. Therefore, resistance to encrustation is a desirable feature of biomaterials employed in such devices. The novel assessment of biomaterial encrustation employing a continuous flow model based on a modified Robbins device is described. Artificial urine was used in conjunction with 5% CO2 to simulate the physiological environment within the upper urinary tract. The widely used urinary device biomaterials, silicone and polyurethane, were investigated in the model for hydroxyapatite and struvite encrustation. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and atomic absorption spectroscopy all showed that silicone was less prone to encrustation than polyurethane and that hydroxyapatite deposition was predominant on both surfaces. The model has the advantage that a large number of biomaterials may be investigated simultaneously because several Robbins devices may be placed in parallel. The model is recommended for comparative evaluation of biomaterial candidates for use in urinary tract devices.