A revolutionary breakthrough in kidney stone removal
Leaving no stones untreated with the
new CVAC system
Kidney stone disease is a painful condition that approximately 10% of people in the U.S. will have at some point in their lives, according to the American Urological Association. While there are several treatment options such as Shockwave Lithotripsy and Laser Lithotripsy, both procedures leave smaller stones or fragments inside patients which results in prolonged patient recovery and repeat procedures.
Calyxo, Inc. is dedicated to innovating care for kidney stone patients by delivering paradigm-shifting medical devices that empower urologists to safely and efficiently achieve unrivaled clinical outcomes. Their vision is to enable doctors to remove kidney stones in a routine, one-time treatment. To realize this, Calxyo partnered with Synapse to develop the newly architected CVAC System, the world’s first all-in-one solution designed to efficiently and effectively remove kidney stones with a minimally invasive approach.
The CVAC System integrates ureteroscopy, laser lithotripsy, irrigation, and aspiration into one device. Using the SURE (Steerable Ureteroscopic Renal Evacuation) procedure, performed exclusively with Calyxo’s CVAC system, urologists can find, treat, and remove stones during a single procedure, minimizing recovery time and stone recurrence risk for patients–a breakthrough that’s changing the lives of patients and bring peace of mind to them and physicians.
“Synapse was an ideal partner that helped us accelerate our product development schedule in order for us to achieve our ambitious vision. They shared our enthusiasm and energy, and the product is a reflection of a successful collaboration.”
— Ling Tong, VP of Research and Development at Calyxo
Cutting-edge innovation
Challenge
Product transformation
To build a next-generation system, Calyxo first needed a new product architecture that could support the latest technology. They also required a team with electrical engineering and firmware expertise to integrate the camera design to develop a user-friendly control interface for urologists. Additionally, Calyxo needed strong manufacturing support and a partner who could effectively manage the supply chain to meet timely production and delivery goals.
Solution
Engineering precision
Synapse and Calyxo collaborated throughout the entire process, from defining product requirements and system architecture to designing electronics for the device control console and implementing embedded software for the user interface. This resulted in a solution that combines a steerable catheter, LED lighting, an irrigation system, and an ultra-compact micro camera into one device. Synapse also designed a graphical user interface, ensuring urologists have clear visualization during kidney stone treatment procedures. Additionally, Synapse supported Calyxo’s operations team by managing key suppliers and coordinating shipments to ensure timely delivery of critical parts.
Outcome
Setting new benchmarks
With a new architecture, next-generation electromechanical design and unique firmware, Synapse helped Calyxo launch the new CVAC System, which received FDA approval in February 2024. This groundbreaking solution is the first of its kind that helps urologists remove kidney stones in just one procedure. As the world’s only comprehensive kidney stone treatment system, the CVAC system positions Calyxo as a differentiator in the kidney care landscape and brings them one step closer to realizing their vision.
Revolutionizing kidney care
The launch of the new CVAC system is a testament to the dedication and collaboration between Synapse and Calyxo to drive innovative results. With Calyxo’s commitment to advancing kidney stone treatment and Synapse’s multidisciplinary engineering expertise, the teams overcame challenges and brought a transformative solution to the market. Their success in the market brings them one step closer to become the standard of care for kidney stone removal. Together, we’re setting new standards in kidney care and improving lives around the world.
