Standardized swallow challenge medium and method of use for esophageal function testing
First Claim
1. A challenge medium for assessing the condition of an organ, wherein the challenge medium exhibits a viscosity of about 1,000 centipoise to about 100,000 centipoise, measured at 30 rpm using a Brookfield Viscometer, LVT model, with a number-4 spindle, and an electrical conductivity of about 2.3 mS/cm to about 11 mS/cm, wherein the.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A swallow challenge medium (10) is thixotropic for easy swallowing and to provide enough viscosity for effective challenge to peristalsis (20) and has high ionic density for effective impedance measurements by contact with electrodes (41-48) positioned in a person'"'"'s esophagus (E) or oropharynx during swallow testing. The medium (10) also has a high surface tension so as not to adhere to or coat the electrodes (41-48) or probe (12) surfaces. These physical characteristics are stabilized and consistent enough to provide standard for esophageal and/or oropharyngeal function testing and diagnostics.
100 Citations
35 Claims
- 1. A challenge medium for assessing the condition of an organ, wherein the challenge medium exhibits a viscosity of about 1,000 centipoise to about 100,000 centipoise, measured at 30 rpm using a Brookfield Viscometer, LVT model, with a number-4 spindle, and an electrical conductivity of about 2.3 mS/cm to about 11 mS/cm, wherein the.
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17. A method of measuring the physiological functions of an organ, the method comprising:
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introducing a predetermined quantity of a challenge medium into the organ;
selecting a plurality of pairs of locations along a path in the organ;
measuring the impedance between each pair of positions; and
determining the location of the challenge medium along the path as a function of time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of testing peristalsis and bolus transit in a person'"'"'s esophagus comprising:
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positioning a probe comprising a plurality of electrodes in longitudinally spaced relation to each other in the person'"'"'s esophagus;
having the person swallow a swallow challenge medium that has viscosity in a range of 1,000 to 100,000 centipoise (high shear), conductivity in the range of 3.8 to 7.6 mS/cm, and sufficient surface tension to cause the swallow challenge medium to clear sufficiently from surfaces of the electrodes and probe as the swallow challenge medium passes the electrodes and probe such that impedance measurements across the electrodes after the swallow challenge medium passes the electrodes is not less than 50% of impedance measurements across the electrodes before the challenge medium reaches the electrodes;
measuring impedance across the electrodes on a real time basis as the challenge medium moves though the esophagus, and recording the impedance measurements as a function of time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of testing peristalsis and bolus transit in a person'"'"'s esophagus, comprising:
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positioning a plurality of electrodes in longitudinally spaced relation to each other in a person'"'"'s esophagus;
having the person swallow a thixotropic swallow challenge medium that has low shear viscosity in a range of 391,000 to 529,000 centipoises, medium shear viscosity in a range of 76,500 to 103,500 centipoises, and high shear viscosity in a range of 11,475 to 15,525 centipoises; and
measuring impedance across the electrodes as the swallow challenge medium moves through the esophagus. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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- 32. A swallow challenge medium comprising a thixotropic material having a low shear viscosity in a range of 391,000 to 529,000 centipoises, a medium shear viscosity in a range of 76,500 to 103,500 centipoises, and a high shear viscosity in a range of 11,475 to 15,525 centipoises.
Specification