Researchers at the Second People's Hospital of Panyu District (China) and Central South University (CSU; Changsha, China) developed the new device, which is based on an ultrasonic probe at the tip of the endoscope that locates the gallstones, even small ones embedded in the organ's lining.

Surgeons can use a horn-shaped "absorbing box" to get rid of the fine, difficult-to-remove sludge-like gallstones by sucking them out like a vacuum cleaner. A channel for fluids can inject water into the gallbladder to increase the size of the cavity for performing surgery easier, and all the interfaces on the device are standardized, allowing the endoscope to connect to camera systems.

Clinical trials conducted at two hospitals showed no significant difference in the surgical safety of the new method. Furthermore, as reported by the authors from the CSU hepatobiliary and enteric surgery research center, the flexibility and reliability of the device was superior to existing devices, and the image quality was better as well. The device is described in a study accepted for publication in the American Institute of Physics (AIP; College Park MD, USA) Review of Scientific Instruments.

Gallstones are crystalline concretions formed by accretion of bile components within the gallbladder, which may also pass distally into other parts of the biliary tract such as the cystic duct, common bile duct, pancreatic duct, or the ampulla of Vater. Presence of gallstones in the gallbladder may lead to acute cholecystitis, a condition characterized by retention of bile in the gallbladder and often secondary infection by intestinal microorganisms, predominantly Escherichia coli and Bacteroides species. Presence of gallstones in other parts of the biliary tract can cause obstruction of the bile ducts, which can lead to serious life-threatening conditions such as ascending cholangitis or pancreatitis.

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Central South University
American Institute of Physics