A novel laparoscopic device for measuring gastrointestinal slow-wave activity

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Medical Devices
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Gastrointestinal motility is coordinated by periodic electrical activity known as slow waves.
• Slow-wave dysrhythmias are implicated in dysmotility syndromes like postoperative gastroparesis.
• Current methods like electrogastrography (EGG) have limitations in reliably characterizing dysrhythmic activity.

Observation:

• A novel, fully shielded laparoscopic device with a 4 mm shaft and four electrodes was developed for serosal slow-wave recording.
• Validation involved comparing the device with a standard electrode platform in a porcine model.
• An intraoperative human trial recorded slow-wave activity from the gastric antrum during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Findings:

• The laparoscopic device demonstrated comparable slow-wave amplitudes (0.38 ± 0.03 mV) to the standard platform (0.36-0.38 ± 0.03 mV).
• Similar signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) were observed between the novel device (13.7 dB) and the standard platform (12.6 dB).
• High-quality recordings (amplitude, 0.41 ± 0.04 mV; SNR, 12.6 dB) were achieved in humans, enabling construction of an activation map showing normal aboral propagation (6.3 ± 0.9 mm/s).

Implications:

• The novel laparoscopic device provides high-quality serosal slow-wave recordings, proving easily deployable and atraumatic.
• It is expected to significantly aid in the clinical investigation of normal and dysrhythmic slow-wave activity.
• The device offers new potential for studying the effects of surgical procedures on gastrointestinal slow-wave activity.