The researchers filled silicone catheterization with the indium gallium eutectic, a liquid metal that is non-toxic in
Along the tube, scientists tied knots with a giveninterval. This made the catheter more sensitive. In this state, the device can measure pressure up to 200 mmHg, which is approximately the maximum pressure in the human digestive tract.
Researchers have shown that pressure sensitivity can vary depending onTo study the gastrointestinal tract, the designers tied knots at a distance of about 1 cm from each other.For other measurements, such "sensors" can be tied closer or farther away.
This approach, according to the authors of the study,they were prompted by the quipu, the technology of writing and counting, which was used by the Incas. Kipu is a complex rope plexus with knots tied in different ways.
"Our goal was to makea device comparable to existing catheter-based pressure sensors, while at the same time reducing cost and simplifying its production and application,” says Kevan Nan, co-author of the study.
Contractions of the gastrointestinal tract ensure the movement of food. Violation of peristalsis can cause health problems. To measure the work of the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, I use manometry.
"Manometry makes it possible to qualitatively measure the pressure and speed at which contractile waves propagate in the gastrointestinal tract.But the devices for such a procedure are expensive, they require special maintenance and a complex sterilization procedure between patients," he notesGiovanni Traverso, co-author of the study.
Scientists tested their device onanimals. The results of the experiments showed that the created device shows results identical to those obtained with high-resolution manometry. In addition, as the researchers note, the developed device can withstand high temperatures and can be disinfected in a conventional autoclave used for sterilization in all medical institutions.
"Our sensors are very simple and cheap," Nan said.This type of diagnostics can be widely used in both developing and developed countries."
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