Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Artificial esophagus with peristaltic movement.

Makoto Watanabe1, Kazumitsu Sekine, Yoshio Hori

  • 1Department of Medical Engineering and Cardiology, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

ASAIO Journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs : 1992)
|April 21, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Researchers created an artificial esophagus using nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (NiTi-SMA) actuators to mimic natural peristalsis. This innovative device shows promise for restoring esophageal function through controlled, sequential contractions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of voltage reduction on changes of shear bond strength and fracture mode of resin-modified glass-ionomer cements after current application.

Dental materials journal·2026
Same author

Trimethyl chitosan: Antibacterial activity on <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> biofilm and cytocompatibility on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts cells.

Journal of dental sciences·2026
Same author

Contemporary Magnetic Removable Partial Denture Utilizing a Novel Ultra-Thin Magnetic Attachment System.

Dentistry journal·2025
Same author

Antibacterial efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles against Enterococcus faecalis in planktonic and biofilm forms.

Journal of applied microbiology·2025
Same author

Effects of adding poloxamer, collagen, and citric acid on mechanical strength, injectability, shape stability, and biocompatibility of mechanochemically modified beta-tricalcium phosphate cement using ball milling.

Dental materials journal·2025
Same author

Prospective Survey of Postoperative Pain in Japan: A Multicenter, Observational Study.

Journal of clinical medicine·2025

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Esophageal defects often require surgical reconstruction.
  • Restoring natural peristaltic function remains a significant challenge in esophageal prosthetics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate an artificial esophagus capable of simulating peristaltic movement.
  • To assess the feasibility of using nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (NiTi-SMA) actuators for esophageal prosthetics.

Main Methods:

  • An artificial esophagus was constructed using serial pairs of NiTi-SMAs arranged helically around a Gore-Tex vascular graft.
  • The device was implanted in a goat model following resection of a 20 cm segment of the cervical esophagus.
  • Electrical stimulation (500 mA at 5 V) was applied to sequentially activate NiTi-SMA pairs.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Sequential contraction of NiTi-SMA pairs successfully simulated peristaltic movement.
  • X-ray examination confirmed the artificial esophagus's contraction pattern mimicked human esophageal peristalsis.
  • Successful anastomosis and functional demonstration were achieved in the animal model.

Conclusions:

  • The developed artificial esophagus, actuated by NiTi-SMAs, effectively replicates peristaltic motion.
  • This technology presents a viable approach for creating functional esophageal prosthetics.
  • Further research may lead to improved treatments for esophageal reconstruction.