A pressure/temperature sensor embedded in an endoscopy hood for intraluminal monitoring during flexible endoscopic operation

In this paper, technical development results of "sensitive endoscope hood" for an endoscopic surgery operative procedure, NOTES (Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery) with a flexible endoscope is reported. A microsensor integrating an absolute pressure sensor and a temperature sensor is embedded inside of the thin wall of a disposable endoscope hood. Intraluminal pressure and temperature of stomach can be measured under the NOTES operation using the sensor hood, and it is very helpful to keep the inside condition of stomach for the operating doctor. Especially, monitoring of stomach pressure have two important purposes. The first importance is quantitative measurement of tumor sizes under a constant intraluminal pressure of stomach for treatment selection. The second importance is prevention of putting the patient in danger caused by over transmission of air. Monitoring with embedded sensor in flexible endoscopic surgery have not been tried and reported in NOTES field with single flexible endoscopy. This is the exploratory work in the area of flexible microscopic surgery, and is a new technology field and challenge of well-established MEMS sensors. The developed endoscopy hood was tested in an animal experimentation with Beagle dog, and its performance and robustness have been successfully demonstrated.