Talk by Prof. Michael R. Bailey

A continuing attempt to improve kidney stone management

Michael R. Bailey Ph.D.
Center for Industrial and Medical Ultrasound
Applied Physics Laboratory
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, USA

Abstract

Similar to many researchers in the Aalto University Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, our team is trying to advance understanding in order to improve management of a disease. In particular, we seek to minimize the pain, anxiety, and surgery caused by kidney stones. Our imaging and treatment modality is ultrasound. We’ve developed technology to image, break, and reposition urinary stones and fragments with ultrasound waves transmitted through the skin from a handheld transducer. We have published trials of feasibility and safety, and awake study participants seem to tolerate the treatment. We have accumulated evidence of clinical benefit. Overall, the hope is to minimize the risks of treatment such that the data support treating even small stones at first presentation rather than sending someone home in pain to await surgery. Potentially, description of our experience has some beneficial overlap for Aalto University scientists and engineers also on translational research journeys. Work supported by NIDDK grant NIH P01 DK043881.

Biography

Michael Bailey received his B.S. degree in 1991 from Yale University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in 1994 and 1997 from the University of Texas at Austin all in Mechanical Engineering and focusing on nonlinear acoustics. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship on cavitation at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington where he currently holds a position of Senior Principal Engineer. He is also a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Adjunct Professor of Urology at the University of Washington. He is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America. Dr. Bailey serves as program director of a U.S. National Institutes of Health Program Project Grant on kidney stone lithotripsy, which is in its 28th year.