Method and system for localising an ingestible element for the functional investigation of the digestive tract

• US 20060122494A1
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Assistance Publique - Hopitaux De Paris
• Original Assignee: Assistance Publique - Hopitaux De Paris
• Inventors: Bouchoucha, Michel Luc
• Application Number:
  US10/522,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122494A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

A method for non-invasive ambulatory exploration, includes causing the subject to swallow at least one emitting element ingestible but non-digestible including a device for transmitting at a given fixed frequency; measuring, at a given time using at least three reception devices distributed around the subject'"'"'s trunk, the phase shift of the frequency transmitted by the transmission devices relative to a reference phase; determining by triangulation on the basis of the three phase-shift measurements the position of the element; defining based on the position of the element a digestive motility and/or passage data. Thus, it is possible to assess: gastric emptying time, gut and colic motility; depending on the weight of the transmitter, gastric, intestinal and colic activity and propulsive force of the stomach, the bowel and the colon; the length of the small intestine and of the colon.

Claims

1. A method of non-invasive exploration for assessing the digestive motricity and/or transit of a human or animal subject, comprising:

said subject swallowing an ingestible transmitting element which is non-digestible containing means transmitting at a given fixed frequency;

measuring, at a given time using at least three reception means distributed around said subject'"'"'s trunk, the phase shift of the frequency transmitted by said transmission means relative to a reference phase;

determining by triangulation on the basis of the three phase-shift measurements the position of said element;

defining, according to the position of said element, a data for the assessment of the digestive motricity and/or transit.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the measurements corresponding to the phase shift are stored in memory means.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving means are placed around the abdominal belt.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a series of position measurements are made which are spread over time.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a position reference measurement is made when the element is in the mouth of the subject, before he swallows it.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the power supply of the transmitting element is triggered at given times and the corresponding phase-shift measurements at each given time are stored in the memory means.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the amplitude of the transmission frequency of the transmission means is modulated as a function of the amplitude of a signal picked up by a sensor included in the transmitting element, said sensor being able to pick up a signal representing a physiological characteristic.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said subject ingests several transmitting elements over a period of time, each transmitting element having a characteristic frequency.

9. A non-invasive exploration system for assessing the digestive motricity and/or transit of a human or animal subject, in particular for the implementation of the method according to claim 1, characterized by:

on the one hand;

an ingestible transmitting elements which cannot be digested by said subject containing means transmitting at a given fixed frequency; and

on the other hand;

receiving means comprising at least three receivers intended to be placed around the trunk of said subject, each receiver being able to measure at a given time the phase shift of said transmission frequency relative to a reference phase;

means for processing and analyzing the three phase-shift measurements made by said receivers which are able to determine, by triangulation, the position of said element.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises means for storing in the memory the phase-shift measurements made by the receivers at a given time.

11. The system according to claim 9, characterized by a high transmission frequency.

12. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the transmitting elements comprises integrated power supply means.

13. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the transmitting element comprises induced power supply means.

14. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the receivers are distributed on a belt which is able to be fixed on the trunk of the subject.

15. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the belt also comprises means for the induction of the power supply of said transmitting element.

16. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the analysis and processing means include a card comprising means for analogue-to-digital conversion of the signals picked up and memory means common to the three receivers and arranged on the belt.

17. The system according to claim 9, characterized by means for connecting the memory means to the processing and analysis means and for transferring the data relating to the phase shifts measured.

18. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the transmitting element comprises a sensor which is able to pick up a signal representing a physiological characteristic, the amplitude of the frequency transmitted by the transmission means being able to be modulated as a function of the amplitude of the signal picked up by said sensor.

19. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises several transmitting elements intended to be ingested by said subject over a period of time.