Akeeko Medical's World-First Device Designed to Transform Treatment of Stone-Related Renal Colic

A revolutionary Australian invention developed through a collaboration between clinical and engineering teams has ambitions to dramatically improve care for patients suffering from renal colic.

Associate Professor Joseph Ischia, a urologist affiliated with the University of Melbourne's Department of Surgery, has led the development of the Akeeko Stent Inserter — set to become the world’s first all-in-one device for ureteric stent insertion. Designed to save patients pain, reduce procedure time, and free up valuable operating room resources, the device would represent a major leap forward in minimally invasive urological care.

The device, developed by Melbourne-based MedTech start-up Akeeko Medical®, integrates what is traditionally a multi-step, multi-device procedure into a single-use, compact tool. The intended result: a faster, simpler, and more patient-friendly experience, with the potential to significantly reduce the burden on busy surgical units.

In November 2024, the device was used for the first time in a clinical setting at Austin Hospital, where a ureteric stent was successfully inserted, and a stone passed — marking a critical early milestone in its development pathway.

Akeeko Medical’s progress continues to be recognised. Also in 2024, the company was awarded a grant under the Victorian Government’s Medtech Market Growth Program, one of only 20 recipients. This funding supported the onshoring of electronics development for the Akeeko Stent Inserter. As a proudly Australian company, Akeeko is committed to strengthening sovereign manufacturing capability.

Akeeko’s research is led by Dr Oneel Patel, who also serves as a Senior Research Fellow (Honorary) in the Department of Surgery (Austin Precinct), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne. Dr Patel specialises in navigating regulatory and institutional barriers to MedTech translation. He is a co-author of a recent comprehensive review on the challenges of introducing transformative surgical technologies in Australia with a focus on accelerating their adoption across healthcare systems.

The invention and ongoing development of the Akeeko Stent Inserter exemplifies the strength of translational innovation — combining frontline clinical insight with world-class engineering expertise to deliver solutions with global impact.

The Akeeko Stent Inserter is not yet registered and will be intended for use by qualified healthcare professionals only. The Akeeko Stent Inserter is on track for FDA submission in Q2 2026, a key step towards TGA approval and market entry.

To learn more about this Australian MedTech success story, visit www.akeeko.com.