Novel Probe Measures Hollow Body Organs

An innovative endolumenal device uses an inflatable balloon probe to measure how far hollow organs are able to expand.

The Endolumenal Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (EndoFLIP) imaging system is used to measure the dimensions and function of a variety of hollow organs and sphincteric regions throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The system is intended for use in identifying candidates for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) surgery, setting gastric band stoma size during bariatric surgery, and analysis of the state of anorectal disorders. The system consists of balloon catheter that serves as a probe, which is attached to a data recorder equipped with a monitoring screen.


The EndoFLIP probe can be deployed either transnasally or transorally, and contains a series of sixteen electrodes that when filled with a conductive fluid, can measure the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) at different points along the balloon. The CSAs can then be converted to estimated diameters, and the changing geometry of the gastro-esophageal junction can be demonstrated dynamically and in real-time on-screen. The EndoFLIP is a product of Crospon (Galway, Ireland), and has been approved by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Community (CE Marking).

"EndoFLIP is providing us new insights into the way we adjust gastric bands. We have conducted a number of studies with the technology to date, and look forward to presenting the results of these studies in the coming months,” said Robert Snow, M.D., of the Specialty Surgery Center (Fort Worth, TX, USA), who conducted the clinical investigations of the EndoFLIP. "In addition, we look forward to collaborating with a number of new leading bariatric surgery study centers inside and outside of the U.S. as we collectively seek to better define new techniques for best use of the EndoFLIP system for gastric band adjustments.”

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