The PercSys Approach to Stone Management in Endourology


PercSys’ advanced microcatheter technology provides endourologists with an innovative approach to treating kidney and ureteral stones. The company’s microcatheters feature a unique and proprietary method for forming an occlusion in the ureter to prevent stone fragment migration and facilitate fragment removal during lithotripsy procedures.

The PercSys Accordion® Stone Management Device and the Accordion CoAx® Stone Control Devices are designed to simplify and shorten endoscopic lithotripsy procedures by combining the utility of multiple endoscopic stone management tools into a single device. Specifically, they offer the benefits of a device for blocking stone migration and the utility of a basket during stone fragment removal.

The Accordion device is a hydrophilic coated, microcatheter-based tool that has the tracking performance characteristics of a premium guidewire*. It is optimized for use during ureteroscopic lithotripsy procedures and features a multi-fold film occlusion that tracks easily past a stone before being deployed.  Once in position, the occlusion will conform to the shape of the ureter, unlike basket or coil devices.  The occlusion allows use of irrigation during stone fragmentation while preventing retrograde migration of stone fragments up to the kidney.  This irrigation can facilitate distal rinsing of smaller fragments to keep the field of view clear. Following fragmentation, the device can sweep multiple, larger fragments into the bladder or into a ureteral access sheath, eliminating the need to basket and remove fragments individually. Unlike most baskets, the Accordion device can be opened easily to release the stone or trapped fragments in the lumen of the ureter, if needed.

The 10mm CoAx device is the second device from PercSys that is optimized for use in ureteroscopic lithotripsy procedures. While this device features the same occlusion film design as the Accordion device and is designed to prevent retrograde stone fragment migration and to facilitate fragment removal, it offers a novel over-the-wire design that allows the device to be introduced into the urinary system over a guidewire. This feature allows CoAx device introduction over a procedural or safety guidewire at any time during the procedure.

The 15mm CoAx device is optimized for use in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) procedures and is designed to prevent ANTEGRADE migration of stone fragments into the ureter. This device offers the same novel coaxial design as the 10mm model and can be introduced over a guidewire in either a retrograde fashion from the bladder or antegrade through the percutaneous access site. When placed retrograde, the guidewire can be removed and the central lumen of the microcatheter can facilitate contrast injection for retrograde pyelograms. Unlike a ballon catheter, the CoAx device is stable when placed in the upper urinary tract and the device's functionality is not compromised by inadvertent contact with lithotripter energy.

These features position the PercSys devices as valuable tools for the urologist with benefits for use in nearly all endoscopic lithotripsy procedures.

U.S. Patent 7,462,183; 7,879,066; 7,883,516
Additional U.S. and foreign patents pending.
* Data on file.