Experimental Validation of an Air Retention Device for Colonoscopy¹

Colonoscopy, recommended for all adults starting at age 50 [1], typically involves insertion of a long, flexible, and steerable colonoscope via the anus to access the large intestine. One of the dangers of this procedure is bowel perforation. This can occur when the colonoscope “loops” and exerts force normal to the intestine wall as opposed to being advanced along its length. To improve visualization and reduce this risk, the bowel is often insufflated, or partially filled with gas, via a port in the colonoscope [2]. This also contributes to shorter time spent under anesthesia. However, many patients lack sufficient sphincter tone at the anus to retain the insufflation gas, and periodic re-insufflation is necessary. An air retention device [3] has been developed to address this issue, and thereby reduce complexity and risk of colonoscopy procedures. This paper describes qualitative experimental validation of the air...