U.S. Urinary Stone Management Devices Market

Urolithiasis is a condition in which stones (calculi) form in the urinary tract. Kidney(renal) stones develop when certain components of urine (e.g., calcium, oxalate, and phosphate) become imbalanced. When this occurs, the urine contains more crystal-forming substances, such as calcium and uric acid, than the fluid is able to dilute,resulting in the formation of a stone, or solid mass of crystals.  While there are many types of stones, the most common contain calcium in combination with phosphate oroxalate. Less common types of calculi include pure uric acid stones and those that derive from urinary tract infections (UTIs), the latter of which are known as struvite or infection stones; in extreme cases, a genetic defect may cause the disease known as cystinuria, in which excess cystine deposits result in kidney stones. 

Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders that affect the urinary tract,with approximately 5% to 7% of women and 10% to 12% of men in the United States(U.S.) being diagnosed with a kidney stone every year. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, an estimated 2.0 million to 2.7 million cases of urolithiasis are diagnosed annually in the U.S., with this number expected to increase in the coming years. The incidence of renal calculi is believed to be increasing in industrialized countries, with a particularly high incidence in women. People who experience a kidney stone have a 50% chance to develop asecond stone during their lifetime.