Apparatus and method for use in analyzing a patient's bowel

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for use in studying a patient's bowel which combines recording and analysis of physiologic parameters and patient sensory perception. A pain input detector, a pain transducer, and a processor are provided. A gas pressure transducer and flow meter may also be provided. Output data may be generated to reflect perceived patient pain, volume of gas delivered to the patient's bowel, and bowel pressure. An indication of perceived patient pain is processed by the processor to generate data that may used to validate a scan of a patient or may be used as a diagnostic tool.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM [0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 979,962, filed Oct. 15, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use in analyzing a patient's bowel by indicating selected parameters, such as colonic pressure, and perceived patient sensations, such as pain, during a medical procedure such as a virtual colonoscopy examination, or for use as a diagnostic testing means.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Virtual colonoscopy (VC) is an effective medical procedure for use in identifying polyps and cancers in the bowel. Typically, an oral laxative is administered to a patient to cleanse and empty the bowel of solid stool. Once the bowel is cleansed, the colon is insufflated with gas. After the colon is distended by the gas, the patient's abdomen and pelvis are scanned using a selected scan procedure, such as computed tomo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an apparatus and method for analyzing a patient's alimentary tract, particularly during a scan of the colon, by using a sensory input detector for detecting pain or other sensory parameters perceived by the patient during insufflation of the colon with gas. The sensory input detector may be a pain input detector that communicates with the patient for detecting pain caused by the insufflation process. The apparatus may also include a gas pressure transducer for measuring the pressure of gas inside the patient's colon. The processor analyzes the output from the sensory input detector and gas pressure transducer to determine the validity of the scan of the patient. The apparatus and method can provide a more accurate and reliable analysis of the patient's colon for diagnostic purposes."

Problems solved by technology

If selected parameters are not within the selected threshold, reliable scan results may not necessarily be obtained.

For instance, if selected parameters indicate that the patient's bowel is not insufflated to a desired amount, any scan that might be performed may not yield accurate results.

Alternatively, if the parameters are not within a selected threshold, the scan may be considered invalid and the patient may be scanned again.

Images