Microbiota Sampling Capsule: Design, Prototyping and Assessment of a Sealing Solution Based on a Bistable Mechanism

Abstract

The diagnosis and the treatment of gastrointestinal pathologies have experienced significant development in recent years with the invention of endoscopic capsules which facilitate the access to different sections of the gastrointestinal tract. At a research level, the concept of capsules has been used to perform several functions such as gastrointestinal tract inspection and drug delivery. Despite that, microbiota sampling still requires surgery in order to collect intestinal liquid samples. In this paper, we propose a microbiota sampling device that navigates through the gastrointestinal tract, takes a sample of the intestinal liquid and protects it from any contamination as the device navigates out of the human body. We use a bistable structure to close the capsule after sampling actuated by a foam. The device is safe for the human body and eco friendly, as it does not contain electronic components, batteries and does not require any external intervention. To manufacture the microbiota sampling capsule, we use additive manufacturing. This technology allows fast prototyping cycle at a relatively low cost. It also offers the use of biocompatible material in advanced stages of development.

Does Bistability Improve Swimming Performance in Robotic Fish?

“…Gaining a better understanding of bistability and its effective utilization may lead to significant advancements in diverse fields, including energy‐efficient transportation systems, [ 20 ] adaptive structures, [ 21 ] and innovative medical devices. [ 22 ]…”

“…Gaining a better understanding of bistability and its effective utilization may lead to significant advancements in diverse fields, including energy-efficient transportation systems, [20] adaptive structures, [21] and innovative medical devices. [22] Appendix 1: Magnet force model To get accurate data for design, the magnets used in the bistable actuator were tested in an Instron tensile testing machine, and a force curve was fitted to the resulting data (Figure A1).…”

Electronic‐Free Traceable Smart Capsule for Gastrointestinal Microbiome Sampling

“…On the other hand, smart passive ingestible capsules exhibit advantages over active capsules by eliminating onboard electronics and demonstrating a safer design. [38] These platforms often utilize stimuli-responsive polymers to take advantage of the physiological conditions within the GI tract, such as pH and microbiome [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] to trigger the sampling process and use electronic-free methods to perform the mechanical actuation required for sampling. As a direct comparison between the active and passive capsules, the onboard electronics and sensors are replaced with the use of stimuli-responsive polymers for targeted sampling, and the mechanical actuators are replaced with passive methods such as hydrogels, microfluidics etc.…”