APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USE IN ANALYZING A PATIENT'S BOWEL

• US 20100228100A1
• Filed: 10/14/2008
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Maryland Baltimore County (University of Maryland)
• Original Assignee: University of Maryland Baltimore County (University of Maryland)
• Inventors: Vining, David J.
• Application Number:
  US12/682,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228100A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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 for use in studying a patient'"'"'s colon, comprising:

a. a flow meter for measuring a flow of gas to be supplied to a colon of a patient for providing an output gas volume parameter dependent on a volume of gas supplied to the patient'"'"'s colon;

b. a gas pressure transducer for communicating with the patient for producing an output gas pressure parameter dependent on a pressure of the gas within the colon of the patient;

c. a detector communicating with the patient for detecting a sensation perceived by the patient and for providing an output sensation parameter indicative of the sensation perceived by the patient; and

d. a processor communicating with the gas pressure transducer, the detector and the flow meter to generate an output reflecting at least one or any combination of the output parameters.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector includes a pain sensor communicating with the patient for sensing pain and a transducer communicating with the pain sensor for providing the output sensation parameter in response to the pain sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor generates the output representing any one or combination of the sensation parameter reflecting an indication of pain perceived by the patient, the gas volume parameter reflecting gas volume in the colon, and the gas pressure parameter reflecting gas pressure in the colon.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor generates the output for use in determining validity of a scan of the patient.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector provides the sensation parameter to reflect onset of perceived pain.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector provides the sensation parameter to reflect cessation of perceived pain.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector provides the sensation parameter to indicate perceived pain as a function of time.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector provides the sensation parameter to indicate magnitude of perceived pain as a function of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a squeeze bulb that may be squeezed to change pressure at the squeeze bulb to reflect the perceived sensation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the amount of pressure change created by the squeeze bulb indicates magnitude of pain perceived by the patient and wherein the detector includes a transducer to detect the pressure change indicated by the squeeze bulb to generate the sensation parameter to indicate the magnitude of the pressure change.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a length of squeeze of the squeeze bulb indicates duration of perceived patient pain and wherein the detector includes a transducer to detect a change in pressure relative to time indicated by the squeeze bulb to reflect the length of squeeze and to generate the sensation parameter indicating the duration of the squeeze.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein initial squeezing of the squeeze bulb creates a pressure change that indicates an onset of perceived patient pain and wherein the detector includes a transducer to detect the change in pressure indicated by the squeeze bulb to generate the sensation parameter to indicate the onset of perceived patient pain.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein release of the squeeze bulb creates a pressure change indicating cessation of pain and wherein the detector includes a transducer to detect the change in pressure indicated by the squeeze bulb to generate the sensation parameter to indicate the cessation of pain.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising signaling means to signal when the at least one or combination of output parameters reflects a predetermined condition used to validate a scan of the patient.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the signaling means indicates a condition favorable to scan the patient when the at least one or combination of output parameters is within a selected threshold.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the signaling means indicates a condition unfavorable to scan the patient when the at least one or combination of output parameters is outside of a selected threshold.

17. An apparatus for use in studying a patient'"'"'s colon, comprising:

a. an input sensor communicating with a patient for detecting a sensation perceived by the patient upon insufflation of a patient'"'"'s colon with gas;

b. a transducer communicating with the input sensor to provide at least one parameter indicative of the sensation perceived by the patient;

c. a processor communicating with the transducer to generate an output dependent on the parameter reflecting the perceived sensation, wherein the output is used to determine validity of a procedure.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising signaling means to signal when the output reflects a predetermined condition to validate a scan of the patient.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising a gas pressure transducer communicating with a patient'"'"'s colon to provide at least one parameter indicative of pressure of gas within the colon of the patient, and wherein the processor communicates with gas pressure transducer so that the output generated by the processor reflects the pressure of the gas within the colon, wherein the output is used to determine validity of a scan of the patient.

20. An apparatus for use in studying a patient'"'"'s colon, comprising:

a. a gas pressure transducer communicating with a patient'"'"'s colon for indicating pressure of gas supplied within the colon of the patient;

b. a processor for communicating with the gas pressure transducer to generate an output reflecting pressure of the gas in the patient'"'"'s colon; and

c. signaling means to signal when the output reflects a predetermined condition to validate a scan of the patient.