Using sound waves to move kidney stones safely
Official title: Noninvasive Repositioning of Kidney Stone Fragments with Acoustic Forceps
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10987043 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a gentle new way to move kidney stones using sound waves, which could help people pass their stones more easily without surgery and reduce the chances of them coming back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | January 11, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $191,239 |
| NIH project number | 5K25DK132416-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10987043 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from kidney stones who are seeking alternative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with very large kidney stones or those who have already undergone extensive surgical interventions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores a new method to noninvasively reposition kidney stones using acoustic forces generated by ultrasound. By optimizing the pulsing mechanisms of ultrasound waves, the project aims to trap and guide kidney stones out of the kidney and into a position where they can be naturally cleared from the body. The approach seeks to minimize the recurrence of symptoms and complications associated with traditional treatments that break stones into fragments. Patients may benefit from a less invasive procedure that could lead to improved outcomes and reduced need for further interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with a safer and more effective way to manage kidney stones without invasive procedures.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of ultrasound in medical treatments is established, this specific approach to reposition kidney stones is novel and has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghanem, Mohamed a — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Ghanem, Mohamed a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Uromodulin and peptides as new targets in kidney stone biology
This NIH grant explores how a urine protein called uromodulin and its peptide pieces influence calcium oxalate kidney stones, using dogs and human biology to understand why stones form and how to prevent them.
-
Oxalate‑eating probiotic to help prevent kidney stones
A new probiotic strain is being developed to help prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones by breaking down oxalic acid in the gut.
-
Oxalate and your immune system in kidney stones
This grant looks at how oxalate in our diet affects kidney stone risk and our immune cells, especially in adults with calcium oxalate stones.
-
How the kidney channel claudin‑2 affects calcium balance and calcium kidney stones
This project looks at how a kidney channel called claudin‑2 helps keep calcium from building up and forming calcium kidney stones.
-
Oxalate balance in people with calcium oxalate kidney stones
This project will find out why some adults make or absorb extra oxalate that increases the chance of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
-
A Probiotic to Prevent Kidney Stones
This project is developing a new probiotic to help people prevent kidney stones by breaking down a key substance called oxalic acid.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.