EndoFLIP
The ENDOluminal Functional Lumen Imaging Probe can measure the area within the oesophagus to determine the efficacy of procedures like fundolication or myotomy when the Lower Oesophageal Sphincter has been adjusted surgically or to determine whether surgery may be required, particularly in patients with Dysphagia.
A balloon is inserted endoscopically and inflated to grip the sides of the gastro-oesophageal junction. Electronic sensors within the balloon provide information to a screen display to provide a visualisation of the junction and sphincter.
From American Physiology Society Assessment of esophageal body peristaltic work using functional lumen imaging probe panometry.
FLIP catheter details and the most common device placement configuration within the esophagus. Close-up of the FLIP probe/bag and internal details of the sensors (A); FLIP bag placed across the EGJ and pressure sensor is in the stomach (B; note that external data storage and computer display system is not shown). EGJ, esophagogastric junction; FLIP, functional lumen imaging probe.
How EndoFLIP works.
This promotional video from Medtronic shows how the device works.
(N.B. Inclusion of links to Medtronic does not impy their endorsement of this page.)
This 2020 article from WebMD What Is EndoFLIP? provides more detail about its uses and what diagnoses it can help with, including Achalasia, Dysphagia, Eosinophilic esophagitis, Esophageal atresia and, Tracheoesophageal fistula.
(The article provides definitions of those conditions.)
This paper from GastroEnterology in 2020 describes its use at the pyloric sphincter in assessing gastroparesis. Role of endoscopic functional luminal imaging probe in predicting the outcome of gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (with video)
Page updated 13 April 2023