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Kidney stones does have the possibility to impact one’s overall renal function and can even be fatal if the correct and on time treatment isn’t administered. The scientists believe that the physics of rain drops cracking the windshield could help in demolishing the kidney stones better than the current range of available treatments.
A new study (R) conducted by the researchers from the Duke University stated saying that the new models of physics behind the condition of windshield cracking raindrops could be the answer to demolishing of the kidney stones in humans.
During the time that the supersonic jets were being developed, the researchers did find a curious finding that they didn’t think of prior to that. Even though the raindrops practically weighed nothing, they had the capabilities of creating ring shaped cracks in the windshield of the jets.
The scientists did face a hard time putting their fingers on the cause behind the condition and later found that the surface waves were the culprit in the situation. This was further clarified by two professors from the Cambridge University, Frank Philip Bowden and John Field.
The hypothesized saying that these surface waves do pack in a very powerful punch in comparison to its 3D counterparts. Even with the main bout sorted, there is still confusion about a few other factors involved.
Pei Zhong, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at Duke University, in his recently published study has finally closed the gap with the confusion that the scientists had regarding the situation.
To further assess the situation, Zhong, along with his former graduate student Ying Zang came together to further visualize the stress created by such surface waves. They made use a lithotripsy device to break the kidney stones using the sound waves in a covered vat filled with water and covered with glass. They then set off a point source explosion which later came out as a spherical shock wave.
It depended on the direction at which the shockwave hit the glass which was able to produce the necessary surface waves that further spread through the water-glass boundary.
The team then made use of a high speed camera to successfully record and measure the speed of various of the elements involved in the shock wave. Zhang further made use of those specific elements to then further validate a finite model that was constructed with the use of multiphysics software, COMSOL.
The researchers then found that creating such bulk and measured surface waves could prove quite beneficial for the condition of treatment of kidney stones by ensuring proper breakdown of the stones to further facilitate better well being of the patient.
Addressing the situation further, Zhong said that one of the common issues that people face with the treatment of kidney stones is to break the stone down into very fine fragments which ensures that the doctors wouldn’t further have to follow up with any of the ancillary procedures.
The insights that they got from this study is enough to make the individuals understand the need to optimize the shape of the shock waves and the lithotripter design that would further help create more tension on the surface of the kidney, thus helping break down the stones.
