Analysis of Urine Flow in Three Different Ureter Models

Abstract EN

The ureter provides a way for urine to flow from the kidney to the bladder.

Peristalsis in the ureter partially forces the urine flow, along with hydrostatic pressure.

Ureteral diseases and a double J stent, which is commonly inserted in a ureteral stenosis or occlusion, disturb normal peristalsis.

Ineffective or no peristalsis could make the contour of the ureter a tube, a funnel, or a combination of the two.

In this study, we investigated urine flow in the abnormal situation.

We made three different, curved tubular, funnel-shaped, and undulated ureter models that were based on human anatomy.

A numerical analysis of the urine flow rate and pattern in the ureter was performed for a combination of the three different ureters, with and without a ureteral stenosis and with four different types of double J stents.

The three ureters showed a difference in urine flow rate and pattern.

Luminal flow rate was affected by ureter shape.

The side holes of a double J stent played a different role in detour, which depended on ureter geometry.