Stanford University, 2008 - $19,166

Most treatment options for fecal incompetence (a condition impacting six million Americans, mostly women) often result in infection or the need for reoperation. This E-Team is developing a new device designed to treat the condition safely. The device consists of a disposable plug kept in place by an anchor stapled into the rectum. Three characteristics separate this design from current treatment options: it prevents stool from exiting regardless of etiology, it poses little risk of infection since it does not invade any internal tissue, and the procedure can be done on an outpatient basis.