Research from P. Valdastri and co-authors in the area of endoscopy published

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February 23rd, 2009

   2009 FEB 23 -- According to recent research from Pisa, Italy, "Background and study aim: Capsule endoscopy is becoming well established as a diagnostic technique for the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless swallowable capsule devices that can effectively perform surgical and therapeutic interventions have not yet been developed."

   "Such devices would also be a valuable support for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a swallowable wireless capsule to deploy a surgical clip under remote control. A wireless endoscopic capsule, diameter 12.8 mm and length 33.5 mm, was developed. The device is equipped with four permanent magnets, thus enabling active external magnetic steering. A nitinol clip is loaded on the topside of the capsule, ready to be released when a control command is issued by an external operator. Repeated ex vivo trials were done to test the full functionality of the therapeutic capsule in terms of efficiency in releasing the clip and reliability of the remote control. An in vivo test was then carried out in a pig: the capsule was inserted transanally and steered by means of an external magnetic arm towards an iatrogenic bleeding lesion. The clip, mounted on the tip of the capsule, was released in response to a remote signal. The procedure was observed by means of a flexible endoscope. A wireless capsule clip-releasing mechanism was developed and tested. During ex vivo trials, the capsule was inserted into the sigmoid section of a phantom model and steered by means of the external magnet to a specific target, identified by a surgical suture at a distance of 3 cm before the left flexure. The capsule took 3 to 4 minutes to reach the desired location moving under external magnetic guidance, while positioning of the capsule directly on the target took 2 to 3 minutes. Successful in vivo clipping of an iatrogenic bleed by means of a wireless capsule was demonstrated," wrote P. Valdastri and colleagues.

   The researchers concluded: "This study reports the first successful in vivo surgical experiment using a wireless endoscopic capsule, paving the way to a new generation of capsule devices able to perform both diagnostic and therapeutic tasks."

   Valdastri and colleagues published their study in Endoscopy (Wireless therapeutic endoscopic capsule: in vivo experiment. Endoscopy, 2008;40(12):979-982).

   For additional information, contact P. Valdastri, Scuola Super Sant Anna, CRIM Laboratory, Viale R Piaggio 34, I-56025 Pisa, Italy.

   Publisher contact information for the journal Endoscopy is: Georg Thieme Verlag kg, Rudigerstr 14, D-70469 Stuttgart, Germany.

   Keywords: Italy, Pisa, Diagnostics, Endoscopy, Gastroenterology, Medical Device, Surgery, Therapy, Treatment.

   This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.

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