Objective To develop a new implantable artificial anal sphincter system (AASS) for
the treatment of fecal incontinence.Methods The system was composed of internal execution
prosthesis,external control module and wireless transcutaneous energy transmission system
(TETS).Wireless communication was used for the data transmission between the internal and
external.Once the rectal pressure exceeded the threshold,an alarm signal was sent to the
external to remind the patient for defecation.Patients controlled the internal execution
prosthesis to open or close the rectum through the external control module and the internal
execution module was charged through TETS.The system was implanted into a pig to evaluate the
stability of each part.After 15 days the pig was dissected to observe the changes and the
diarrhea and rectum blood experiments were conducted in vivo.Results External control module
achieved the real-time control of internal execution prosthesis.The internal execution module
could sustainably work 24 h after charging 3 h through TETS.Diarrhea experiment showed that
when the pressure of 7.16kPa was applied on the intestinal wall (normal anorectal resting
pressure:6.26-9.47kPa),the prosthesis could effectively suppress the leakage of intestinal
contents.Conclusions AASS could simulate the function of normal sphincter,as a new solution
for patients with severe fecal incontinence.
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