1. Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
  2. School of Mechanical Engineering
  3. Research and innovation
  4. Research projects
  5. IMPRESS - Fecal continence system

Research project

IMPRESS - Fecal continence system

  • Start date: 30 June 2014
  • End date: 21 December 2018
  • Funder: EPSRC
  • Primary investigator: Dr Peter Culmer
  • Co-investigators: Professor David Jayne, Ali Alazmani
  • Postgraduate students: Will Stokes
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An in-depth biomechanical understanding of the continence mechanism is needed for the development of emerging technologies for the treatment of Faecal Incontinence (FI). Flow properties through synthetic tubes and porcine tissue have been studied in the past, however they have simplified the system considerably and have not modelled the surrounding biological tissues with which the rectum interacts. Furthermore they do not attempt to replicate the complexities of dynamic pressure, volume and angulation changes in the anorectum during defecation.

This research seeks to develop a physical model of the faecal system for the future development and evaluation of feacal incontinence technologies.

Supported by the EPSRC IMPRESS Network