Body Surface Colonic Mapping for Non-Invasive Motility Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for colonic motility disorders, such as high-resolution colonic manometry (HRCM), are invasive, expensive, and limited in accessibility, hindering accurate diagnosis and treatment of functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, and fecal incontinence.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive system using a multi-electrode array patch and data acquisition device for body surface colonic mapping (BSCM) to measure and analyze electrical signals from the abdomen, employing continuous wavelet transform (CWT) analysis to detect and differentiate cyclic motor patterns (CMPs) and high amplitude propagating contractions (HAPCs), providing a motility index (MI) for accurate diagnosis and tailored treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-resolution colonic manometry (HRCM) is used to accurately diagnose colonic motility disorders, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the procedure becomes invasive and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical intraluminal manometry catheter system with an electromagnetic sensing system. Surface electrodes detect electrical signals from colonic muscle contractions through the abdominal wall, eliminating the need for mechanical insertion into the colon while preserving diagnostic capability for motility disorders.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the abdominal wall and skin as an intermediary medium between the colonic contractions and the sensors. Instead of directly measuring pressure inside the colon, the system detects the electrical and mechanical signals that propagate through the abdominal tissues, providing an indirect but non-invasive measurement approach.
2Measurement precision
If high-resolution colonic manometry (HRCM) is used to detect colonic motor patterns, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanical catheter system with multiple pressure sensors is replaced with a simpler array of surface electrodes that detect electrical signals. The signal processing algorithms (wavelet transform, Hilbert transform) compensate for the reduced spatial resolution by extracting temporal and frequency characteristics of motor patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from intraluminal pressure to surface electrical potential. By detecting the electrical activity of colonic smooth muscle contractions through the abdominal wall, the system achieves motor pattern detection with simpler hardware and reduced procedural complexity.
3Loss of information
If intraluminal manometry catheters are inserted for colonic monitoring, then diagnostic information is obtained, but patient discomfort and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for bowel preparation and catheter insertion by using surface electrodes that can detect colonic electrical signals through intact skin. This preliminary avoidance of invasive steps reduces procedure time and patient discomfort while still obtaining diagnostic information about colonic motility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invasive mechanical catheter insertion process is replaced with a non-invasive electrical sensing approach. Surface electrodes applied to the abdominal skin detect colonic electrical activity without requiring physical access to the colon, dramatically reducing procedure time and eliminating insertion-related patient discomfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system offers a safe, user-friendly, and cost-effective means to identify biomarkers for colonic disorders, improving diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic strategies by correlating symptom severity, enhancing clinical management and reducing healthcare costs.
Implementation Method 1
Body Surface Colonic Mapping (BSCM) employs multi-electrode array patches to measure and map colorectal myoelectrical activity
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for mapping colonic and rectal activity with an electrode array patch disposed over an abdomen skin surface of a patient. The method includes non-invasively measuring electrical signals associated with colonic activity of the patient with the electrode array patch over a predetermined time period, receiving the measured electrical signals from the electrode array patch over the predetermined time period, determining one or more abnormal cyclic motor patterns (CMPs) and/or abnormal high amplitude propagated contractions (HAPCs) based at least in part on the received measured electrical signals, and generating a report comprising at least the determination of the one or more abnormal CMPs and/or abnormal HAPCs.