Monitoring motor function deep within the gut is challenging due to the need to monitor over extended lengths with high spatial resolution. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) manometry catheters provide a near ideal method of monitoring physiologically significant lengths of the gut in a minimally invasive fashion. Following the development by our group of the first viable FBG based manometry catheter we have undertaken a series of clinical investigations in the human esophagus, colon, stomach and small bowel. Each region presents its own technological challenge and has required a range of modifications to the basic catheter design. We present the design of these catheters and clinical results from over 100 in-vivo studies. |
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