About this Research Topic
The main components of the complex urinary tract (UT) are the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. To achieve normal urination, all elements of this system have to work synergistically. A fundamental understanding of normal physiological UT function and its alteration due to pathologies is key to the development of novel medical devices. This can be achieved through modelling involving experimental ( in-vitro, ex-vivo, in-vivo) and theoretical (in-silico) approaches. Theoretical models, once validated experimentally, can provide fundamental insights and be used to simulate and predict complex scenarios with the aim of optimizing the design of novel medical devices.
The scope is to showcase how complementary and synergistic modelling approaches can be used to address challenges in urology such as:
- Urolithiasis
- Stone formation and removal
- Biofilm and encrustation formation on stents and catheters
- Urinary incontinence
- Underactive and overactive bladder
- Bladder outlet obstruction
- Drug delivery
- Cancerous and/or inflammatory diseases
- Tissue remodeling
This Research Topic welcomes papers covering experimental and theoretical fluid mechanical and fluid-structure-interaction modelling approaches applied to the urinary tract. The focus includes studies that i) provide insights into the functionality of the urinary tract and how it changes due to pathologies, ii) validate existing and novel theoretical models via experiments and iii) predict the impact of medical devices on the urinary tract.
Conflict of Interest statements: Francesco Clavica is listed as inventor on two patents dealing with a medical device to treat urinary retention. He is also co-founder and share holder of URODEA AG, a startup company focusing on urological medial devices.Dario Carugo is co-inventor on patent application US20200383809A1 “Stent with streamlined side holes". Sarah Waters is a joint applicant on a patent application with Boston Scientific on ureteroscopes.
The scope is to showcase how complementary and synergistic modelling approaches can be used to address challenges in urology such as:
- Urolithiasis
- Stone formation and removal
- Biofilm and encrustation formation on stents and catheters
- Urinary incontinence
- Underactive and overactive bladder
- Bladder outlet obstruction
- Drug delivery
- Cancerous and/or inflammatory diseases
- Tissue remodeling
This Research Topic welcomes papers covering experimental and theoretical fluid mechanical and fluid-structure-interaction modelling approaches applied to the urinary tract. The focus includes studies that i) provide insights into the functionality of the urinary tract and how it changes due to pathologies, ii) validate existing and novel theoretical models via experiments and iii) predict the impact of medical devices on the urinary tract.
Conflict of Interest statements: Francesco Clavica is listed as inventor on two patents dealing with a medical device to treat urinary retention. He is also co-founder and share holder of URODEA AG, a startup company focusing on urological medial devices.Dario Carugo is co-inventor on patent application US20200383809A1 “Stent with streamlined side holes". Sarah Waters is a joint applicant on a patent application with Boston Scientific on ureteroscopes.
Keywords: fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, fluid structure interaction, particle transport, validation, predictive models, fundamental and translational research, in-silico, in vitro and in vivo models
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
