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Congratulations to Yi Zhu and team members in the Dong lab! Yi Zhu is currently a Master of Science student in the Miniature Robotics Lab leaded by Prof. Xiaoguang Dong. The article “Magnetic soft robotic valve for minimally invasive therapy of gastroesophageal reflux disease” has been selected as a VINSE spotlight publication.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) highlights the urgent need for more effective and reliable sphincter technologies. GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter fails to close properly, either due to muscle dysfunction or the presence of esophageal stents placed during tumor management, allowing gastric acid to flow back into the esophagus. This not only causes significant discomfort but also increases the risk of esophageal cancer. Current treatments, including medications, surgical implants, and passive anti-reflux valves, have notable drawbacks. For example, magnetic sphincter augmentation employs a surgically implanted ring of magnetic beads around the lower esophagus, but the procedure is invasive and often causes complications such as impaired swallowing (dysphagia). Similarly, passive anti-reflux stents often fail to maintain a complete seal or become misaligned, risking aspiration when food or liquids enter the airway. A grand challenge remains in achieving reliable reflux prevention without obstructing the passage of solid and liquid contents. To tackle this challenge, we propose a magnetic soft robotic valve for the minimally invasive treatment of sphincter dysfunction. The valve incorporates soft, magnetic, ring-shaped lattice structures that attract each other to form a robust seal, effectively preventing leakage under external pressures exceeding 7.5 kPa, which is well above typical maximum gastric reflux pressures of ∼3.2 kPa. Controlled, on-demand valve opening is enabled via a wearable magnetic actuation system, ensuring safe and regulated passage of food. In the long term, this approach aims to establish a bioinspired artificial sphincter for managing various forms of sphincter dysfunction. By combining magnetic actuation, flexible materials, and wireless control, the proposed soft robotic valve represents a significant advancement over existing technologies. This platform also lays the groundwork for integrating soft robotic structures into medical implants, enabling early, minimally invasive interventions for gastrointestinal and other organ system disorders.

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Authors: Yi Zhu, Boyang Xiao, Ane Kirk-Jadric, Hanwen Fan, Rishi Naik, Yuxiao Zhou, Xiaoguang Dong

Abstract: Sphincter dysfunction contributes to various diseases, notably in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Current GERD treatments are limited by side effects, invasive surgical implants, risk of nerve injury, and complications such as dysphagia. To overcome this challenge, we report a magnetic soft robotic valve for minimally invasive treatment of sphincter dysfunction. The valve employs soft, magnetic, ring-shaped lattice structures that attract each other to form a robust seal, preventing leakage under external pressures exceeding 7.5 kPa, well above typical gastric reflux pressures (3.2 kPa). On-demand valve opening is enabled via a wearable magnetic actuation system, ensuring controlled passage of food. The device withstands radial forces exceeding 3.5 N during simulated peristalsis and is validated through delivery, sealing, and solid-passage tests in esophageal phantom and ex vivo sheep models and visualized using X-ray imaging. Thus, the proposed method is promising for enabling early, minimally invasive intervention for gastrointestinal and other organ disorders.