PNCL-BOZ Trainer

Trainer device for Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy Surgery

The PCNL-BOZ is a training device that allows surgeons and medical students to practice hands-on simulation for targeting, crushing and removing kidney stones through the Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy Surgery (PCNL).

The Training model has been developed and patented by a Group of Bioengineers from the Department of Electronic, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB) of Politecnico di Milano in collaboration with a world-renowned urologist and medical consultant from the department of Urology Humanitas Mater Domini.

The device faithfully reproduces the anatomical portion of interest and its biological tissues (the skin, adipose tissue, muscle tissue, the renal parenchyma and the spine) with the use of materials with comparable ultrasound charateristics.

Moreover PCNL-BOZ allows the insertion of surgical tools providing the trainee with surgery-like haptic feedbacks.
The device can be reused for simulating several procedures thanks to the interchangeable cartridge containing the kidney and with the appropriate setting could be used for the training of other surgical techniques concerning the same anatomical portion, such as the insertion of ureteral catheter.

In 2016 the patented device was licensed to an American company that developed several prototypes containing artificial kidney simulating the different interested pathologies. These has been clinically tested by surgeons and students with different level of expertise, receiving excellent feedback.

The device has consequently been launched at international conferences and it is now available in the market.