The CVAC System Procedure:
How It Works
Learn about the first-of-its-kind, minimally invasive procedure designed to help your doctor remove all of your kidney stones in a single treatment.1
Getting More Kidney Stones Out2,3: The CVAC System Procedure, Step by Step
Procedure Overview
- Designed to help your physician leave less stone behind than other minimally invasive treatment options2-5
- Safe, effective, and covered by most health insurance plans1
- Reduces unplanned post-procedure health events,* such as ER visits, hospital stays, and additional procedures†,6
How the CVAC Procedure Begins
Accessing the kidney: While you’re under anesthesia, the thin, camera-guided tube of the CVAC System will be threaded through your urethra, bladder, ureter, and kidney, to the exact location of your stone(s). No surgical incisions are required.
One-of-a-Kind Vacuum Technology Makes All the Difference
Kidney stone removal: The CVAC System continuously vacuums out stone dust and fragments during and after stone lasering, so your doctor can remove as much as possible.
Finishing up: Once your kidney stones have been vacuumed out, your doctor will remove the CVAC System and tubing. To ensure everything is flowing properly after your procedure, they will likely place a stent that will be removed at a follow-up appointment.
Because the CVAC System procedure is an outpatient treatment, you’ll most likely be home the same day.
Why Choose the CVAC System Procedure?
A Truly “Stone-Free” Goal
Other treatments claim to deliver “stone-free” results while leaving pieces behind. The CVAC System is designed to get more out — even compared to other suction-based options.2,3
Clinical Proof You Can Trust
From large, real-world studies to the highest-quality clinical trials, the CVAC System procedure has been proven safe and effective, time and time again.1-11
Lower Risk of Unplanned Health Events in the Future
Compared to standard stone lasering, CVAC System patients experienced 73% fewer unplanned post-procedure health events† Unplanned health events are ER visits, hospital stays, or additional procedures likely due to stones left behind after your initial procedure. up to two years after treatment.6
Frequently Asked Questions
In general, the CVAC System procedure is covered by most insurance plans. You may be responsible for part of the procedure cost, but the amount you pay will depend on your health insurance plan coverage. Your doctor’s office or surgery scheduler will confirm your insurance coverage before your procedure.
Your doctor will determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure based on the size, type, number, and location of your kidney stones — as well as your overall health, physical anatomy, personal preferences, and treatment goals.
For example, if it’s important to you that your kidney stones be completely removed, be sure to let your doctor know you’re interested in the CVAC System procedure.
The treatment is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll most likely be home the same day. Patients are often able to resume normal activities within a few days of the procedure.12
Most likely, yes. But your doctor will determine whether or not to place a stent based on their preferred processes, equipment used during the procedure, and other factors.
As with other minimally invasive kidney stone treatments, there are some risks involved with the CVAC System procedure. Possible complications include, but may not be limited to: perforation, puncture, bleeding, hematuria, damage to ureter or kidney, discomfort, pain, inflammation, infection, and/or fever.
Three Things to Listen for When Talking to Your Doctor
“The Goal Is to Completely Remove All of Your Kidney Stones.”
The CVAC System is designed to help your doctor remove all stone pieces, so none are left behind to regrow or pass through your urine.
“The Procedure Is Minimally Invasive with a Short Recovery.”
With the CVAC System, you get high stone clearance without the need for more invasive surgery.1
“I’ll Be Using a Technology Called the CVAC System.”
Find a CVAC System-Trained Physician Near You
* Compared to standard ureteroscopy
† Unplanned post-procedure health events are ER visits, hospital stays, or additional procedures (limited to additional procedures likely due to stones left behind after your initial procedure).
- Matlaga B, Mueller T, Johnson B, Page J, Wolf JS, Preminger G, et al. PD10-04 PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED STUDY OF STEERABLE URETEROSCOPIC RENAL EVACUATION VS URETEROSCOPY WITH BASKETING: 30-DAY RESULTS OF THE ASPIRE STUDY. Journal of Urology. 2024 May 1 [cited 2025 Nov 5];211(5S):e186. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.JU.0001008748.59024.cb.04.
- Cabo et. al. MP29-04: Prospective Comparison of Flexible and Navigable Ureteric Access Sheath (FANS) and CVAC 2.0 In-Scope Aspiration System for High-Volume Stone Disease, Conference Presentation, AUA 2025.
- Johnson, Brett A., et al. CVAC System Superior to Direct-In-Scope Suction Across Range of Stone Sizes in a Direct In Vitro Comparison of Stone Fragment Aspiration, Conference Presentation, March 2025.
- Cook et. al. IP08-19: A Retrospective Analysis of the 2nd Generation CVAC Ureteroscope’s Stone Clearance: Our Initial Experience, Conference Presentation, AUA 2025.
- Eisner, et al. MP16: 17 Prospective Evaluation of Steerable Ureteroscopic Renal Evacuation with the Second-Generation CVAC® Aspiration System: Findings from the CLEARANCE Study. Conference Presentation, WCET 2025.
- Stern, et al. MP16: 01 Steerable ureteroscopic renal evacuation reduces the risk of healthcare consumption events at 2 years compared to standard ureteroscopy (URS). Conference Presentation, WCET 2025.
- Ostergar, et al. MP25: 12 First In-Vivo Multicenter Experience with the novel CVAC aspiration ureteroscope. Conference Presentation, WCET 2025.
- Rings, et al. MP08:16 Steerable Ureteroscopic Renal Evacuation with the CVAC System – A Retrospective Study Evaluating Outcomes for Complex Stone Patient. Conference Presentation, WCET 2025.
- Chen, et al. MP19: 06 Steerable Ureteroscopic Renal Evacuation (SURE) in real-world practice: a single center outcome analysis. Conference Presentation, WCET 2025.
- Griffiths et. al. IP11-10: Early Experience of Steerable Ureteroscopic Evacuation (S.U.R.E) with CVAC System Next Gen 2.0 — with Quantitative Computer Tomography, Conference Presentation, AUA 2025.
- Klyde et. al. PD01-06: Real-World Experience with CVAC 2.0 for Steerable Ureteroscopic Renal Evacuation in a Large, Multi-Site Academic Institution, Conference Presentation, AUA 2025.
- The Urology Group. CVAC System for Kidney Stones: What to Expect. UrologyGroup.com. Acessed November 24, 2025. https://www.urologygroup.com/condition/cvac/.