Intelligent robot implants to treat rare birth defects in the esophagus

Stenosis of the esophagus is a rare inherited disease, in which the upper and lower part of the baby's esophagus is atrophied, with no two-headed association.

Scientists at Sheffield University and Children's Hospital Boston have created a better treatment, in the form of an implantable robot device that treats this disease.

Usually, esophageal spasms treated with surgical techniques are called Foker procedures. It involves using stitches to pull the ends of the esophagus, encouraging this division to grow toward the sides over time.

Dr Dana Damian of Sheffield, who led the study, said: "Doctors have performed the Foker procedure, because they realize that prolonging tissue can treat this condition. However, this technique can causing the esophagus to tear, causing surgery to handle complications that can be repeated, scarring and easily catching some other diseases in the future ".

So, in a new way, they put in a new robot device.

Implanted next to the esophagus, the robot is attached to the organ via two rounds of esophagus. Using an electric motor, the robot gradually applied pressure, gently pulling the ends of the esophagus towards each other. Sensors in the device carefully measure and regulate tissue tension while also promoting new cell growth.

The device is provided by an external controller, which is attached to a specialized shirt that the baby will wear. This means that babies can move while being treated. In contrast, infants treated by the Foker procedure must lie dormant during treatment.

This study was published in Science Robotics.

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