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Not yet recruitingNCT07840482Updated Sep 25, 2026

FANS-Optimization of Irrigation and Suction Parameters in RIRS A RCT

An interventional study of ClearPetra™ FANS - High-Flow Setting and ClearPetra™ FANS - Moderate-Flow Setting in Stone, Kidney, sponsored by University of Kansas Medical Center. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.

Sponsored by University of Kansas Medical Center · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
100
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Kidney stones are commonly treated with flexible ureteroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure in which a small scope is passed through the urinary tract to reach and treat stones in the kidney. Flexible and navigable suction access sheaths (FANS), such as the ClearPetra™ system, allow irrigation and suction to be used during the procedure to help remove stone fragments.

The purpose of this randomized study is to compare two different irrigation and suction pressure settings used with the ClearPetra™ FANS system during flexible ureteroscopy. Approximately 100 adults undergoing ureteroscopy for kidney stones will be randomly assigned to either a higher-flow setting or a moderate-flow setting. The study will compare stone clearance, operative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes to determine which setting provides the most effective and safe treatment conditions.

Read the detailed description

This is a prospective, single-center, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial evaluating two predefined irrigation and suction pressure configurations using the ClearPetra™ 11/13 Fr Flexible and Navigable Suction Access Sheath (FANS) during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS).

Approximately 100 adult patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopy for treatment of kidney stones with a total stone burden of 1.0 to 2.5 cm will be enrolled. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two treatment groups. The high-flow group will undergo RIRS using irrigation at 250 mmHg with an automated irrigation pump and suction at 200 mmHg. The moderate-flow group will undergo RIRS using irrigation at 150 mmHg and suction at 120 mmHg.

The primary objective is to evaluate the effect of these irrigation and suction settings on procedural and postoperative outcomes. The primary outcome is stone-free status assessed by postoperative computed tomography approximately three months after surgery. Stone-free status is defined in the protocol as no residual stone fragments greater than 2 mm.

Secondary outcomes include basket use, total operative time, laser time, total laser energy, and postoperative infection within 30 days. Additional exploratory assessments will evaluate the ability of the FANS sheath to reach the upper and lower pole calyces, sheath length selection, intraoperative deflection characteristics, and the amount of sheath remaining outside the patient during upper-pole access.

Participants will undergo clinical care and follow-up according to standard practice. Follow-up information will be collected approximately three months after surgery, and long-term follow-up will continue for up to 12 months to assess subsequent stone events, additional treatments or reinterventions, and available stone-related imaging.

02

Conditions studied

  • Stone, Kidney

Keywords

  • Stone
  • FANS
  • Suction sheath
  • ureteroscopy
  • irrigation settings
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • 1Male or female participants aged 18 years or older. 2-Undergoing flexible ureteroscopy for retrograde intrarenal surgery. 3-Total stone burden between 1.0 and 2.5 cm.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 1Undergoing bilateral stone treatment during the same procedure. 2-Known genitourinary anatomical abnormalities. 3-Uncorrected coagulopathy. 4-Urinary diversion. 5-Chronic external urinary catheter. 6-Pregnancy. 7-Immunosuppression. 8-Participation in another clinical research study during the duration of this trial, unless the investigator determines on a case-by-case basis that participation in the other study will not adversely affect the outcomes or integrity of this trial.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
100 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    High-Flow FANS Setting

    Participants will undergo retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using the ClearPetra™ vacuum-assisted ureteral access sheath with irrigation pressure of 250 mmHg using an automated irrigation pump and suction pressure of 200 mmHg.

    Device: ClearPetra™ FANS - High-Flow Setting

  • Active comparator
    Moderate-Flow FANS Setting

    Participants will undergo retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using the ClearPetra™ vacuum-assisted ureteral access sheath with irrigation pressure of 150 mmHg using an automated irrigation pump and suction pressure of 120 mmHg.

    Device: ClearPetra™ FANS - Moderate-Flow Setting

Interventions

  • DeviceClearPetra™ FANS - High-Flow Setting

    ClearPetra™ 11/13 Fr Flexible and Navigable Suction Access Sheath (FANS) used during retrograde intrarenal surgery with irrigation pressure of 250 mmHg using an automated irrigation pump and suction pressure of 200 mmHg.

  • DeviceClearPetra™ FANS - Moderate-Flow Setting

    ClearPetra™ 11/13 Fr Flexible and Navigable Suction Access Sheath (FANS) used during retrograde intrarenal surgery with irrigation pressure of 150 mmHg using an automated irrigation pump and suction pressure of 120 mmHg.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Stone-Free Rate (SFR)

    Stone-free status will be assessed using postoperative imaging. Stone free is defined as no residual stone fragments greater than 2 mm visible on imaging. The proportion of participants meeting this definition will be compared between the two study arms.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 months postoperatively

06

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

07

References and documents

Publications

  • Chen Y, Zheng L, Lin L, Li C, Gao L, Ke L, Kuang R, Chen J. A novel flexible vacuum-assisted ureteric access sheath in retrograde intrarenal surgery. BJU Int. 2022 Nov;130(5):586-588. doi: 10.1111/bju.15873. Epub 2022 Sep 6. No abstract available. PubMed 35986898 ↗
  • Brain E, Geraghty RM, Lovegrove CE, Yang B, Somani BK. Natural History of Post-Treatment Kidney Stone Fragments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Urol. 2021 Sep;206(3):526-538. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000001836. Epub 2021 Apr 27. PubMed 33904756 ↗
  • Ghani KR, Wolf JS Jr. What is the stone-free rate following flexible ureteroscopy for kidney stones? Nat Rev Urol. 2015 May;12(5):281-8. doi: 10.1038/nrurol.2015.74. Epub 2015 Apr 14. PubMed 25868563 ↗
  • Tonyali S. Suctioning ureteral access sheath use in flexible ureteroscopy might decrease operation time and prevent infectious complications. World J Urol. 2019 Feb;37(2):393-394. doi: 10.1007/s00345-018-2510-5. Epub 2018 Sep 26. No abstract available. PubMed 30259124 ↗
  • Assimos D, Krambeck A, Miller NL, Monga M, Murad MH, Nelson CP, Pace KT, Pais VM Jr, Pearle MS, Preminger GM, Razvi H, Shah O, Matlaga BR. Surgical Management of Stones: American Urological Association/Endourological Society Guideline, PART I. J Urol. 2016 Oct;196(4):1153-60. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.05.090. Epub 2016 May 27. PubMed 27238616 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — De-identified individual participant data collected during the study might be shared after study completion for other research purpose. These data may include participant demographics, medical history, stone characteristics, operative and procedural data, postoperative outcomes and complications, stone-free status, and follow-up information regarding subsequent stone events, imaging, and additional treatments or reinterventions. No personally identifiable information will be shared.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07840482
Lead sponsor
University of Kansas Medical Center
Collaborators
KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 25, 2026
Start date
Nov 1, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Nov 1, 2029 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 1, 2029 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 25, 2026

Study contacts

Wilson Molina, Md
Contact
wmolina@kumc.edu
913-588-6146
Bristol B. Whiles, md
Contact
bwhiles@kumc.edu
Wilson Molina, md
principal investigator · University of Kansas Medical Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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