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

• US 10,092,234 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Maryland Baltimore County (University of Maryland)
• Original Assignee: University of Maryland Baltimore County (University of Maryland)
• Inventors: Vining, David J
• Primary Examiner(s): ABOUELELA, MAY A
• Application Number:
  US14/459,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20140350384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 600560, 600561, 600587, 600595, 3405731
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/03 Computed tomography [CT] echo-tomography A61B8/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1064 Large intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to prepare a patient'"'"'s colon for insufflation and scanning, the apparatus comprising:

a pressure transducer configured to detect a pressure level of gas within a patient'"'"'s colon;

a flow meter configured to detect a volume level of gas delivered to the patient'"'"'s colon;

circuitry configured to monitor a period of time over which the pressure level is detected and maintained within a predetermined range of pressures;

a processor configured to receive an indication of the pressure level detected by the pressure transducer, an indication of the period of time over which the pressure level is detected, and an indication of the volume level detected by the flow meter, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the pressure level is within the predetermined range of pressures for a predetermined period of time and whether the volume level is within a predetermined range of volumes; and

a signaling unit configured to provide an output indicating that a scan is valid in an instance in which the pressure level is determined to be within the predetermined range of pressures for the predetermined period of time and the volume is determined to be within the predetermined range of volumes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range of pressures is approximately 20 mm Hg to approximately 30 mm Hg.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range of pressures is approximately 20 mm Hg to approximately 30 mm Hg, and wherein the predetermined period of time is approximately 15 seconds.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range of pressures is approximately 20 mm Hg to approximately 30 mm Hg, and wherein the predetermined range of volumes is approximately 2 L to approximately 6 L.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signaling unit is configured to provide the output comprising at least one of an electronic signal, an alarm, a flashing light, or a sound alarm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an automated pressure relief valve configured to vent the patient'"'"'s colon, wherein the automated pressure relief valve is configured to be actuated to vent the patient'"'"'s colon in an instance in which the pressure level within the patient'"'"'s colon exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scan is a virtual colonoscopy scan comprising a computer tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

8. A method for validating a scan of a patient'"'"'s colon comprising:

insufflating a patient'"'"'s colon with gas;

detecting, via a pressure transducer, a pressure level of the gas within the patient'"'"'s colon;

detecting, via a flow meter, a volume level of gas delivered to the patient'"'"'s colon;

monitoring a period of time over which the pressure level is detected and maintained within a predetermined range of pressures;

determining, via a processor in communication with the pressure transducer, whether the pressure level detected is within the predetermined range of pressures for a predetermined period of time;

determining whether the volume level detected is within a predetermined range of volumes; and

providing an output, via a signaling unit in communication with the processor, indicating that a scan is valid in an instance in which the pressure level is determined to be within the predetermined range of pressures for the predetermined period of time and the volume level is within the predetermined range of volumes.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined range of pressures is approximately 20 mm Hg to approximately 30 mm Hg, and wherein the predetermined period of time is approximately 15 seconds.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined range of pressures is approximately 20 mm Hg to approximately 30 mm Hg, and wherein the predetermined range of volumes is approximately 2 L to approximately 6 L.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the output comprises at least one of an electronic signal, an alarm, a flashing light, or a sound alarm.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising automatically venting the patient'"'"'s colon in an instance in which the pressure level within the patient'"'"'s colon exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined pressure threshold is approximately 60 mm Hg.

14. An apparatus configured for use in scanning a patient'"'"'s colon, the apparatus comprising:

a pressure transducer configured to detect a pressure level of gas within a patient'"'"'s colon;

circuitry configured to monitor a period of time over which the pressure level is detected and maintained above a predetermined pressure threshold;

a processor configured to receive an indication of the pressure level detected by the pressure transducer and an indication of the period of time over which the pressure level is detected and further configured to determine whether the pressure level exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold for a predetermined period of time;

an automated pressure relief valve configured to vent the patient'"'"'s colon, wherein the automated pressure relief valve is configured to be actuated to vent the patient'"'"'s colon in an instance in which the pressure level within the patient'"'"'s colon exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold for the predetermined period of time; and

a flow meter configured to detect a volume level of gas delivered to the patient'"'"'s colon, wherein the processor is configured to receive an indication of the volume level detected by the flow meter and to determine whether the volume level exceeds a predetermined volume threshold, and wherein the automated pressure relief valve is configured to be actuated to vent the patient'"'"'s colon in an instance in which the volume level exceeds the predetermined volume threshold.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the predetermined pressure threshold is approximately 60 mm Hg.