Author/Authors :
Kim, Kyung-Wuk Department of Mechanical Engineering - Soongsil University - Dongjak-gu - Seoul, Republic of Korea , Choi, Young Ho Department of Radiology - Seoul National University Boramae Hospital - Dongjak-gu - Seoul, Republic of Korea , Lee, Seung Bae Department of Urology - Seoul National University Boramae Hospital - Dongjak-gu - Seoul, Republic of Korea , Baba, Yasutaka Department of Radiology - Hiroshima University Hospital - Minami-ku - Hiroshima, Japan , Kim, Hyoung-Ho Department of Mechanical Engineering - Soongsil University - Dongjak-gu - Seoul, Republic of Korea , Suh, Sang-Ho Department of Mechanical Engineering - Soongsil University - Dongjak-gu - Seoul, Republic of Korea
Abstract :
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.
