Kidney stones are a common condition affecting a significant portion of the global population. These crystalline formations in the urinary tract not only cause discomfort but, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications, including urinary obstruction and kidney damage. In response to this persistent healthcare challenge, cutting-edge technologies are enhancing kidney stone treatment, particularly in the field of stone management disposables.
The market for these devices is witnessing robust growth, underpinned by innovative materials such as nitinol, which is transforming patient outcomes and improving clinical efficiency.
A market on the rise
According to GlobalData, the stone management disposables market size was valued at $811.1 million in 2023 and will grow at a CAGR of more than 7% from 2023 to 2033. [1] This growth reflects a combination of the increasing prevalence of kidney stones and advancements in treatment modalities.
Globally, factors such as changing dietary habits, dehydration, and genetic predisposition contribute to the rising incidence of kidney stones. This growing demand has catalysed innovation in stone removal devices, with manufacturers focusing on improved efficacy, patient safety, and operational efficiency. Stone management disposables such as retrieval baskets and lithotripsy equipment are now integral in this evolving market.
Nitinol: A major upgrade in kidney stone retrieval
At the heart of many modern stone retrieval devices is nitinol – a unique alloy of nickel and titanium. Its properties include superelasticity, shape memory, and biocompatibility, making it an ideal material for kidney stone treatment tools.
Nitinol’s flexibility enables devices to navigate the complex and delicate structures of the urinary tract with minimal trauma. This capability is essential for removing stones efficiently without causing significant damage to surrounding tissue. Moreover, the superelastic properties ensures that nitinol devices can revert to their original configuration after deformation – a critical feature for retrieval baskets designed to encircle and extract kidney stones.
Innovations in kidney stone treatments
One of the most significant trends in treating kidney stones is the shift towards minimally invasive procedures. Ureteroscopic techniques allow for stone removal through small incisions or natural openings and have become the gold standard in the field. Stone retrieval baskets, guidewires, and laser fibres used in these procedures increasingly rely on nitinol for superior performance.
Another area of innovation is in disposable devices, which mitigate the risks of cross-contamination and infections associated with reusable equipment. This trend aligns with stringent infection control protocols, particularly in high-risk environments such as hospitals.
The adoption of nitinol-based disposable retrieval tools is not just enhancing patient safety but also streamlining operational workflows by eliminating the need for reprocessing and sterilisation.
Expertise in nitinol manufacturing
From nitinol-based retrieval baskets to disposable tools that enhance safety, the kidney stone removal market is poised for sustained growth. As manufacturers strive to meet the challenges of cost and regulation, the sector’s expansion will likely bring even more sophisticated and effective treatments to patients worldwide.
A trusted partner of leading OEMs, with more than 20 years of expertise in processing nitinol, Alleima plays a critical role in designing, developing and manufacturing complex, life-changing medical solutions, which is integral to the functionality of these devices. Among other solutions, Alleima designs and develops flexible nitinol retrieval baskets that offer high kink resistance, one-to-one motion transmission, and high set-up force and ensures the highest quality and functionality of its solutions in a cost-effective manner.
By embracing cutting-edge materials and addressing emerging needs, companies such as Alleima are not only driving technological progress but also improving lives, ensuring that kidney stone patients can access the best treatments available. For more information about Alleima’s nitinol processing capabilities download the whitepaper below.
[1] https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/stone-management-disposables-devices-market-analysis/?utm_source=non-lgp&utm_medium=23-221548&utm_campaign=thematic-report-hyperlink&CampaignValue=701Ti00000PWPmWIAX