Ingestible Electroviscerography Marker for GI Signal Discrimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for detecting electrical signals associated with gastrointestinal muscular activity struggle to distinguish these signals from those of abdominal muscular activity, leading to inaccurate readings.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electroviscerography system comprising an ingestible identifier marker and a body-associated receiver configured to detect and generate electroviscerograms, which utilize electrodes and integrated circuits to capture and process myoelectrical signals from the gastrointestinal system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If skin surface electrodes are used to detect electrical signals, then the system can capture myoelectrical signals from the gastrointestinal system, but the electrical signals from abdominal muscular activity cannot be distinguished from gastrointestinal signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an ingestible marker as an intermediary object that is swallowed by the patient and travels through the gastrointestinal tract. This marker emits detectable signals that allow the system to distinguish gastrointestinal electrical activity from abdominal muscle activity, thereby resolving the signal discrimination problem while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/electrical detection system with skin surface electrodes with a system that uses an ingestible marker containing electromagnetic emission capabilities. This substitution allows for more precise localization and differentiation of signals within the gastrointestinal tract
2Reliability
If traditional electrogastrography systems are used, then gastrointestinal electrical signals can be recorded, but the system complexity increases due to multiple electrodes and signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the diagnostic function from a complex multi-electrode system and concentrates it into a single ingestible marker. This marker contains the essential detection and emission capabilities needed to assess gastrointestinal electrical activity, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining diagnostic reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The ingestible marker serves multiple functions: it acts as a signal source, a tracker, and a diagnostic tool all in one device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate electrodes, amplifiers, and processing systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Portable electroviscerography systems are provided. Aspects of the systems include a body-associated receiver and an ingestible identifier unit, both of which are configured to detect visceral electrical signals. The system communicates with an extra-corporeal data processor configured to receive data from the body-associated receiver and generate and electroviscerogram from the received data. Also provided are methods of producing electroviscerograms using systems of the present invention.