title: A novel magnetic device to prevent fecal incontinence (preliminary study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this research we propose an original magnetic device to strengthen the hypo-atonic anal sphincter and prevent fecal incontinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  The device consists in a couple of small magnetic plaques to be surgically inserted in the wall of the anal canal between the external and internal anal sphincters with the opposite polarities face to face, so that, attracting themselves, close the anal lumen. Three couples of magnets made of materials of different magnetic force (neodymium>ferrite>plastoferrite) were evaluated in each of three swine anatomical preparations by measuring the endoanal pressure with a manometric catheter, both before and after magnet implantation. The mean pressures obtained before and after magnet insertion were statistically compared with Student t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The endoanal pressure after the insertion of neodymium magnets was 79.7+/-13.1 (mean+/-SD), after ferrite magnets was 42.1+/-5.6 mmHg and after plastoferrite magnets was 21.6+/-4.6 mmHg, all of them significantly higher than the pressure recorded in basal conditions (1.72+/-0.71 mmHg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research demonstrated that the implantation of a couple of magnets in the wall of the anal canal is able to create a high pressure zone of a value sufficient to prevent fecal incontinence and that the strength of this "dynamic closure" can be modulated by using magnets of various attraction force, so allowing a "tailored correction" of the anal sphincter hypotension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. bormau@tin.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ugolini
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grandis
authors.forename: Isacco
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Montroni
authors.forename: Giosuè
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzero
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008365:Manometry; D008422:Materials Testing; D009354:Neodymium; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011312:Pressure; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C001215:ferrite; D009354:Neodymium