Researchers have introduced a gentle pumping device aimed at easing treatment for gastrointestinal cancer patients. Detailed information about this breakthrough is published in Advanced Functional Materials (Adv Function Mater).
Digestive tumors can obstruct any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, doctors use metal stents to widen passages, but their rigidity may prevent the esophagus from contracting normally. When that happens, food can accidentally enter the lungs instead of moving toward the stomach, creating serious complications.
The new soft device relies on strong magnets that an external control system can steer. Activating the magnets produces wave like motions along the digestive tract, facilitating the passage of food through the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. This technology holds promise not only for cancer patients but also for individuals with impaired peristalsis due to other conditions.
Beyond its potential for cancer care, scientists see possibilities for broader applications, including treatments for infertility that involve weakened muscular function in the fallopian tubes where the egg travels from the ovary. The ability to enhance muscular movement in these channels could support fertility interventions in the future.
In other medical developments, clinicians in Russia have reported a case involving a rare patient, a girl with an unusual anatomical presentation described as a double stomach, illustrating the variety of digestive system differences encountered in medical practice.