The NGage Nitinol Stone Extractor, manufactured by Cook Medical, represents an entirely new category in the evolution of stone extraction. Utilizing the revolutionary nitinol technology, NGage allows physicians to easily engage, release and extract stones even in the most difficult anatomy while providing improved irrigation, visibility and enhanced efficiency. In recent clinical evaluations, the breakthrough NGage proved more effective than standard devices in grasping and holding fragments in the kidney and urinary tract. Its retention strength was also demonstrated to be 1.5 times stronger than traditional graspers.

Minneapolis-based researchers say that a urinary tract infection may be caused by the E. coli bug picked up from a pet. The study was conducted in humans and pets in 63 households. Published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the research found that the E. coli strain within a household was same in 68% of domiciles.

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Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. said its CeraShield coated silicone urinary catheters used in preclinical tests were able to provide complete protection against E.coli bacterial colonization for the entire duration of a 21–day study. The results of the study, which also examined two leading silver-coated urinary catheters and one nitrofurazone-eluting catheter in the same protocol, reflected that all three of the compared catheters lost antimicrobial activity after three days.

A research led by a Johns Hopkins has indicated that African-American people suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) continue to lose their kidney function over time even when their blood pressure is kept strictly under control. The study involving 1,094 African American patients reflected that the kidney functions of these patients continued to deteriorate even through their blood pressure remained below the recommended range, often leading to dialysis, kidney transplantation and even death. The findings suggested that treating CKD in this population may be vastly more complex than thought previously.