Method and system for monitoring gastrointestinal function and physiological characteristics

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating gastrointestinal motility and, optionally, other physiological characteristics (e.g., pulse rate) that can be effectively employed to acquire one or more signals associated with acoustic energy (i.e. sound) emanating from an abdominal region of a body and determine at least one gastrointestinal parameter or event based on the acoustic energy signal(s) is described. The gastrointestinal parameter can include a gastrointestinal event (including gastrointestinal mixing, emptying, contraction and propulsion, and gastrointestinal transit time), or a gastrointestinal system disorder (including reflux disease, irritable bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and a migrating motor complex disorder).

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention generally relates to methods for the non-invasive assessment of gastrointestinal function and physiological characters. Background technique [0002] Over the past few decades, advances in the pharmaceutical industry have been key to extending the length and quality of human life. In addition to new compounds, advances in oral drug dosage forms and delivery methods have helped improve efficacy while minimizing dosage and reducing side effects. However, the human digestive tract is heterogeneous, and differences in digestive enzymes, absorption rates, microbial flora, and other factors make certain sites in the gastrointestinal tract more or less ideal for the delivery of specific drugs. [0003] Pharmaceutical companies have focused considerable efforts on targeted drug delivery, ie, the location and rate of drug delivery within the gastrointestinal ("GI") tract. These efforts have resulted in changes in the form of basic delive...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, there are several significant disadvantages associated with the gamma scintillation method

[0007] A disadvantage associated with the gamma scintillation method is that the method is currently limited to a small number of equipment and specialists due to the problems (and controls) associated with handling radioactive material and the expense of the equipment

A further disadvantage is that large-scale clinical drug trials are not realistic

[0010] A significant disadvantage associated with conventional acoustic methods and systems is that the range of information that can be derived from the recorded sound is limited

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