13 min listen
How can a simulation help treat kidney stones?
How can a simulation help treat kidney stones?
ratings:
Length:
11 minutes
Released:
Nov 30, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Around 10% of us will experience kidney stones at some point in our life. They occur when waste products in the blood form small crystals, which gather together in the kidneys to form hard lumps. Small kidney stones (<4mm in diameter) usually pass through the body naturally, with no medical intervention required. However, larger kidney stones may require treatment. For example, a laser beam can be used within the kidney to break a large stone up into smaller pieces. During this laser treatment, bubbles are formed in the kidneys - which can be a help or a hindrance. In this episode, we chat to applied mathematician Sophie Abrahams, who uses mathematical modelling to explore the best ways to pulse a laser to achieve the 'best bubbles' during the treatment of kidney stones.
Released:
Nov 30, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Why does Uranus smell like farts?: Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun, has the poetic name of the Greek god of the heavens. In the English language, it is, unfortunately, the literal butt of every astronomy joke. And last year the new discovery about the seventh planet’s odour... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions