BACKGROUND Although ureteral catheters and ureteral fluorescence methods have been investigated to avoid ureteral injury, they have not been standardized for procedural complexity and safety to the living body. A near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence ureteral catheter made of fluorescent resin was jointly developed for non-invasive detection of ureters. The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate its bench-top performance and (2) assert its safety and potential usefulness in a series of animal models. METHODS [Bench-top study]: Confirmed stimulation of NIR fluorescence catheter by NIR light was investigated with the use of a laparoscopic fluorescence imaging system. Additionally, the influence of imaging distance and shielding objects, such as 1.5-mm sliced pig loin with multiple sheets, was also evaluated. [Performance study]: The safety and potential usefulness of fluorescence catheter was evaluated in five pigs. Non-fluorescence and fluorescence ureteral catheters were alternatively placed in the animals' left and right ureters. The ImageJ software was used in all experiments to quantify fluorescence signal and the signal-to-background ratio. RESULTS [Bench-top study]: The fluorescence ureteral catheter was successfully identified at all distances. Its fluorescence decreased in inverse proportion to distance and to the intervening shield thickness (p  < 0.01). When shields were present, catheter position could not be recognized with non-fluorescence catheters, but with fluorescence catheters they could be recognized. [Performance study]: Fluorescence catheter's ability to fluoresce at all distances was confirmed (p  < 0.01). No individual differences (p = 0.21) or left/right ureter differences (p  = 0.79) were observed. The fluorescence of the fluorescence catheter decreased in inverse proportion to distance (p  < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The new fluorescence ureter catheter investigated shows promising performance in providing ureteral identification with high specificity during laparoscopic surgery.

中文翻译：

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新型，通用且廉价的导管可实时识别输尿管。

背景技术尽管已经研究了输尿管导管和输尿管荧光方法来避免输尿管损伤，但是它们还没有针对程序的复杂性和对生物体的安全性进行标准化。联合开发了一种由荧光树脂制成的近红外（NIR）荧光输尿管导管，用于无创检测输尿管。这项研究的目的是（1）评估其台式性能，以及（2）在一系列动物模型中断定其安全性和潜在实用性。方法[台式研究]：使用腹腔镜荧光成像系统研究了已证实的近红外荧光对近红外荧光导管的刺激。此外，还评估了成像距离和屏蔽对象（例如1.5毫米多片猪腰切片）的影响。[性能研究]：在五只猪中评估了荧光导管的安全性和潜在的实用性。将非荧光和荧光输尿管导管交替放置在动物的左，右输尿管中。在所有实验中均使用ImageJ软件量化荧光信号和信噪比。结果[台式研究]：荧光输尿管导管在所有距离上都被成功识别。它的荧光强度与距离和屏蔽层厚度成反比（p <0.01）。当有防护罩时，非荧光导管无法识别导管位置，但荧光导管可以识别导管位置。[性能研究]：证实了荧光导管在所有距离的荧光能力（p <0.01）。没有观察到个体差异（p = 0.21）或左/右输尿管差异（p = 0.79）。荧光导管的荧光与距离成反比（p <0.01）。结论研究的新型荧光输尿管导管在腹腔镜手术过程中提供高特异性的输尿管鉴别方面显示出有希望的性能。