Prevailing methods for esophageal motility assessments, such as perfusion manometry and probe-based function imaging, frequently overlook the intricate stress fields acting on the liquid-filled balloons at the forefront of the probing device within the esophageal lumen. To bridge this knowledge gap, we innovatively devised an infusible flexible balloon catheter, equipped with a quartet of PVDF piezoelectric sensors. This design, working in concert with a bespoke local key-node analytical algorithm and a sensor array state analysis model, seeks to shed new light on the dynamic mechanical characteristics at pivotal esophageal locales. To further this endeavor, we pioneered a singular closed balloon system and a complementary signal acquisition and processing system that employs a homogeneously distributed PVDF piezoelectric sensor array for the real-time monitoring of dynamic mechanical nuances in the esophageal segment. An advanced analytical model was established to scrutinize the coupled physical fields under varying degrees of balloon inflation, thereby facilitating a thorough dynamic stress examination of local esophageal nodes. Our rigorous execution of static, dynamic, and simulated swallowing experiments robustly substantiated the viability of our design, the logical coherence of our esophageal key-point stress analytical algorithm, and the potential clinical utility of a flexible esophageal key-node stress detection balloon probe outfitted with a PVDF array. This study offers a fresh lens through which esophageal motility testing can be viewed and improved upon.

This paper presents a method for detecting and locating esophageal tumors using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) based on the modified total variation (MTV) regularization algorithm, utilizing a four-layer electrode array balloon detection structure. The optimal structure of the electrode array was obtained using the uniform design (UD) method. By integrating esophageal tissue structure information, physical models containing tumors at different locations were constructed. Using the adjacent excitation mode, the study compared average voltage, voltage dynamic range, and boundary voltage changes of electrode pairs within one-quarter of a cycle to analyze esophageal tumor characteristics. By comparing the correlation coefficients, relative errors, and imaging times of three reconstruction algorithms, the MTV algorithm, which best matches the morphological characteristics of the esophagus, was selected for image reconstruction. The calculated tumor height showed an error (ΔH) within 1 mm, indicating that EIT can provide vital information on the position, size, and electrical properties of esophageal tumors, demonstrating significant potential for clinical application in esophageal examinations.