CRYstalluria sensing for kidney stones SElf-MOnitoring – CRYSEMO

The recurrence of the kidney stones (or urinary lithiasis) increases in all industrialized country implying an increasing cost for healthcare systems. To prevent this crisis of renal colic, the analysis of the quantity of crystals in the urine, called crystalluria, has proven its relevance. However, it is not widely proposed in analysis laboratories. Indeed, it requires the availability of specifically trained technicians, who perform this analysis under microscopy. Moreover, as urine is a metastable fluid, it requires an important logistical chain to perform this measurement without bias within 2 hours after urinary excretion.
In this project, we propose to develop a new connected auto-test analysing the amount of crystals present in urine. For this, a new physical approach based on the measurement of backscattered, diffusely transmitted and directly transmitted optical signals will be studied. The use of urine simulating solutions with crystals (manufactured in lab) and Artificial intelligence tools coupled with a Monte-Carlo engine will be used to interpret the collected signals. The first objective of this CRYSEMO project is to study the sensitivity and specificity of this new technique and to develop a portable sensor for the patient based on this technology. Then, the following objectives will be to demonstrate the absence of logistic bias thanks to the measurement "close to the patient" and finally, to integrate this crystalluria sensor in an e-health platform.