Programmable Adaptive Anti-Retention Module for Capsule Endoscopy Based on Durable and Ultra-Wide Range Pressure Sensor

Capsule endoscopy (CE) enables non-invasive examination of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, there is still no viable way to solve capsule retention (CR), which is the most worrisome complication of CE in clinic. The CR rate did not decrease with the continuous development of the CE. Here, we proposed a novel approach that fabricated a programmable adaptive anti-retention module (PARM) with small size and integrated it into the capsules to alleviate the retention of the capsules in GI tract. We developed a durable, ultra-wide range and highly sensitive pressure sensor, along with four different trigger logic circuits, to construct four PARMs with diverse application potentials. The miniature PARM is capable of detecting pressure and adapting to trigger vibration at a very high frequency based on the preset pressure program, or alternatively, the vibration can be controlled wirelessly according to the pressure values. Ex vivo and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that the PARM can effectively relieve the blockage of capsules in the intestines and promote intestinal peristalsis. The proposed PARM is a positive exploration and attempt to alleviate the CR problem, demonstrating significant potential for reducing the CR rate in clinic.