Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Testing Epithelial Permeability in Fetal Tissue-Derived Enteroids
Published on: June 16, 2022
Flow through a mechanical distraction enterogenesis device: a pilot test
Eiichi A Miyasaka1, Manabu Okawada, Richard Herman
1Section of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Background:
We tested the coupling portion of a prototype intraluminal distraction enterogenesis device to allow flow-through of simulated enteric contents (SEC) in both pig and human jejunum.
Materials And Methods:
SEC was made using 80% corn syrup. Ten-cm pig and human intestinal segments had a spoke-shaped 2.2 cm coupling adaptor sutured in place, intraluminally. The adaptor had a flow-through area of 33.6 mm(2). SEC was pumped into the proximal part of the intestinal segment at 0.083 mL/s. The times to first passage of SEC through the coupler (first drop), 10 mL, and 20 mL of SEC eluted from the distal end were recorded.
Results:
Mean time to first drop elution was 155 ± 38 s with pig, and 149 ± 22 s with human bowel (P = 0.8). This corresponded to a hydrostatic pressure of 37.5 mmHg before the initial drop passed through. Mean flow rates were 0.094 mL/s in pig bowel and 0.084 mL/s in human bowel (P = 0.09). To account for occlusion from luminal debris, a 75% occlusion of coupler holes was studied in the smaller pig bowel to investigate if reductions in flow-through area could be tolerated. Mean time to first drop increased slightly to 171 ± 15 s, but the elution rate stayed the same (P = 0.5).
Conclusions:
After a physiologic level of initial pressure buildup allowing the first drop of SEC to pass the coupling adaptor, our prototype intestinal coupling adaptor did not obstruct flow-through of SEC, even after a 75% decrease in flow-through area. This type of attachment represents a viable approach to placing a device in-continuity without obstructing flow of enteric contents.
