Researchers have developed a new soft, flexible sensor designed to detect bleeding that occurs outside the direct view of a colonoscope's camera during a colonoscopy. The device, described in a study published in the journal Device, aims to address a known risk of the common medical procedure.
Colonoscopy is a vital screening tool for colorectal cancer, but it carries risks including bleeding and perforation of the colon wall. Some bleeding can originate from areas not visible to the camera at the tip of the scope, potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment.
The experimental sensor is made from a silicone elastomer embedded with a special platinum-based ink. It is designed to be attached to the shaft of a commercial colonoscope. When it comes into contact with blood, a chemical reaction causes a measurable change in the sensor's electrical resistance, triggering an alert.
In laboratory tests using animal tissue, the prototype sensor successfully detected the presence of blood. The research team, primarily from the University of California, San Diego, indicates that further development and clinical trials are needed before the technology could be used in patients.
