If you’ve ever had a kidney stone—or even know someone who has had one—you already know how excruciating the pain can be. These tiny mineral deposits can cause such sharp, stabbing pains in your back or side, nausea, and a constant feeling of discomfort. Kidney stones are more than just a nuisance; in fact, they can completely disrupt your life.
Currently, all of the traditional treatments often fall short. Majority of the painkillers may only mask symptoms, oral medications work slowly (if at all), and surgeries are very invasive, risky, and costly. For recurring stones, patients can find themselves going through cycles of pain and medical appointments. But a recent breakthrough from the University of Waterloo could change everything: a tiny magnetic robot that goes straight to the stone and breaks it down with precision.
Before diving into the robot, it helps to understand what the actual problem is. Kidney stones are crystalline mineral deposits that form in the kidneys or urinary tract. They often tend to come in several types, such as calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine stones. Kidney stones affect roughly 12% of people worldwide, and the actual recurrance of it is so common. Larger stones can block urine flow, cause infections, and ultimately lead to kidney damage if it were untreated. Current solutions— such as shockwave therapy, medications, or surgery—are not ideal for everyone. So, this is where the tiny magnetic robot comes in, offering a less painful and more targeted alternative.
A team at the University of Waterloo has started to developed a soft, flexible micro-robot roughly the size of a small piece of spaghetti—about 1 mm wide and 12 mm long. This is made from a hydrogel-elastomer filament, it contains a built-in magnet and is loaded with the enzyme urease.
Why urease you may ask? Well its because this enzyme has the ability to raise the pH of urine, which helps to dissolve certain types of kidney stones. Instead of waiting for pills or surgical intervention, this robot helps and delivers treatment directly to the stone, tackling the problem at the source. The process is as clever as it is futuristic! In fact this robot can be inserted into the bladder using a catheter, making it minimally invasive. Once inside, doctors would guide it through the urinary tract using a robotic arm with a rotating magnet, while monitoring its position via ultrasound imaging.
When the robot reaches the stone, an external magnetic patch holds it in place. Then the enzyme unrease begins by dissolving the stone by changing the urine chemistry. Over time, the stone breaks down into smaller pieces that can pass naturally—without the extreme pain associated with larger stones.
Testing in life-size 3D-printed urinary tract models filled with synthetic urine has shown exciting results:
- Urine pH increased from 6 to about 7
- Kidney stones lost roughly 30% of their weight in five days
- The pH effect lasted up to three months, showing potential for long-term benefits
Animal trials are next, and researchers are working on refining robot navigation, real-time imaging, and control. If these trials succeed, it could revolutionize kidney stone treatment.
This tiny magnetic robot offers several advantages over traditional methods:
- Faster treatment: Works directly on the stone rather than waiting for oral medications to act
- Less pain: Avoids invasive surgery and prolonged discomfort
- Lower risk: Ideal for patients who cannot undergo surgery or have recurring stones
- Healthcare impact: Could reduce repeated hospital visits and save medical costs
It’s a patient-friendly, technology-driven solution for a condition that has frustrated both doctors and patients for decades.
Imagine lying in a hospital bed, but instead of awaiting surgery or enduring excruciating pain, a tiny robot is guided right to the stone. You might feel some pressure or movement, but no sharp pain, no lengthy recovery, and no invasive procedures. For patients with recurring stones, this could be life-changing! The soft robot is part of a larger trend: microrobots and soft robotics in medicine. From targeted drug delivery to minimally invasive surgery, these innovations hint at a future where treatments are faster, safer, and far more precise.
Dr. Magdanz says it best: “There is currently no good treatment method available for this type of kidney stone. Our goal is to accelerate stone dissolution, relieve pain faster, and help patients pass stones quicker.”
If animal trials and subsequent human testing succeed, this tiny magnetic robot could transform kidney stone treatment forever—bringing relief to millions and showcasing the power of combining robotics, chemistry, and medicine.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
