biostudies-literatureUnknown15(12)Yuen SKK<h4>Introduction</h4>Flexible ureteroscopy has advanced modern stone management; however, lower pole renal stones remain a challenge due to suboptimal ureteroscope deflection and navigation using conventional flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheaths (FANS). The SCULPT trial is designed to assess whether the novel steerable FANS-which enables active controlled deflection-can improve the success rate of lower pole access during flexible ureteroscopy.<h4>Methods and analysis</h4>This multicentre, prospective, single-blinded, randomised controlled superiority trial will recruit 400 adult patients (aged 18-75 years) with solitary lower pole renal stones ≤2 cm diagnosed by CT from 20 high-volume urological centres in China. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to undergo flexible urBMJ opene103866https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12673546biostudies-literatureSteerable versus Conventional flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS) flexible Ureteroscopy for Lower Pole stones Treatment: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised superiority trial (SCULPT trial).PMC12673546Bi XYuen SKKDeng SBai BShan LDing NGauhar VLiu SZuo LZhao ZDai YJiang YLiu YXi MTang SWu WZhao Hde la Rosette JZhong WYang CYuan JHe WCao ZMai HHu HZeng JMa JDu JZhu WZeng GKe CfalseSteerable versus Conventional flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS) flexible Ureteroscopy for Lower Pole stones Treatment: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised superiority trial (SCULPT trial).<h4>Introduction</h4>Flexible ureteroscopy has advanced modern stone management; however, lower pole renal stones remain a challenge due to suboptimal ureteroscope deflection and navigation using conventional flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheaths (FANS). The SCULPT trial is designed to assess whether the novel steerable FANS-which enables active controlled deflection-can improve the success rate of lower pole access during flexible ureteroscopy.<h4>Methods and analysis</h4>This multicentre, prospective, single-blinded, randomised controlled superiority trial will recruit 400 adult patients (aged 18-75 years) with solitary lower pole renal stones ≤2 cm diagnosed by CT from 20 high-volume urological centres in China. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to undergo flexible ur2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-05T22:18:44.845Z2026-05-22T03:15:44.311ZS-EPMC126735464133865010.1136/bmjopen-2025-103866