title: In vitro and in vivo assessment of an intelligent artificial anal sphincter in rabbits.
abstract: Artificial sphincters have been developed for patients with fecal incontinence, but finding a way to make such sphincters more "intelligent" remains a problem. We assessed the function of a novel intelligent artificial anal sphincter (IAAS) in vitro and in vivo in rabbits. After the prosthesis was activated, rabbits were continent of feces during 81.4% of the activation time. The fecal detection unit provided 100% correct signals on stool in vitro and 65.7% in vivo. The results indicated that the IAAS could efficiently maintain continence and detect stool; however, the IAAS is still in the preliminary experimental stage and more work is needed to improve the system.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. huangzonghai@live.com
authors.forename: Zong-Hai
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fu-Jun
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fei-Xue
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D001187:Artificial Organs; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome