From HandWiki - Reading time: 4 min
Instruments used in urology are specialized medical devices employed in the diagnosis, treatment, and surgical management of disorders affecting the urinary tract and the male reproductive system. Urological instruments are used in both open and minimally invasive procedures, including endoscopy, catheterization, stone removal, tissue resection, and reconstructive surgery. Commonly used instruments include cystoscopes, ureteroscopes, resectoscopes, dilators, catheters, and lithotripsy devices.[1]
The development of modern urological instrumentation closely paralleled advances in urology and minimally invasive surgery during the 19th and 20th centuries. Early innovations such as the cystoscope enabled direct visualization of the bladder and urethra, while later fiber-optic and digital technologies expanded the use of endoscopic techniques throughout the urinary tract.[1]
Urological instruments may be reusable or disposable and are commonly manufactured from stainless steel, polymers, and fiber-optic materials designed to withstand sterilization and repeated clinical use.[2]
| Instrument | Uses |
|---|---|
| General instruments used in adult medicine are used in this branch of medicine | |
| Ultrasonic stone disintegration apparatus | used to break down kidney stones into smaller fragments to allow them to pass out without the need of any surgery |
| Cystoscope | an endoscope to view the urinary passage |
| Urethral sound | instrument used to dilate urethra and relieve urethral strictures |
| Ureteric balloon catheter | a balloon catheter intended for treating strictures of the ureter |