Kidney Stones

Research

The Department of Urology at Mayo Clinic has long been at the forefront of the search for better ways to diagnose and treat kidney stones. Mayo Clinic developed many of the tools now regularly used during percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Mayo Clinic urologists were among the first in the world to perform ureteroscopic stone removal and were instrumental in refining and improving the procedure.

Mayo Clinic physicians and researchers are continually evaluating new procedures that may prove helpful for people with kidney stones and are actively involved in the study of kidney stone prevention. In 2008, Mayo Clinic received a large National Institutes of Health grant to further the research into stone disease causes, diagnosis and treatment.

Urologists also conduct clinical trials to help evaluate and refine new technologies. Their depth of expertise makes Mayo Clinic a world leader in clinical research on kidney stone diagnosis, treatment and prevention.