METHOD FOR DETECTING BLOCKAGE OR INSUFFICIENCY OF PANCREATIC EXOCRINE FUNCTION

• US 3,719,183 A
• Filed: 03/05/1970
• Issued: 03/06/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howard S. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Howard S. Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Howard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/022,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2P,2R,2.1R 424/9,20,35,36,37
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/425 pancreas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer

Abstract

A process for determining internal blockage to pancreatic enzyme flow in which an electronic capsule transponder has an insulative coating of material dissolvable by the action of predetermined enzyme secretions. When the coating is dissolved, the transponder is coated with the enzyme flow. The transponder may be swallowed and a stimulant may be applied to the body to selectively increase enzyme secretions.

Claims

1. A process for determining internal blockages to enzyme flow of a subject comprising the steps of providing a swallowable transmitting means having an electrical characteristic thereof modified by a coating of a substance dissolvable by predetermined enzyme secretions;

said electrical characteristic determining the state of said transmitting means;

said transmitting means having electrical contact means embedded in said coating;

causing the subject to swallow said transmitting means;

applying a stimulant to selectively increase enzyme secretions which are active to dissolve said dissolvable substance and to cloSe said contact means;

thereafter determining the state of said transmitting means whereby when said substance is dissolved, the condition of said electrical characteristic can be determined.

2. The process of claim 1 in which the transmitting means has a coating of carbohydrate insulatively covering at least two open connections.

3. The process of claim 1 in which one or more transmitting means are swallowed having different dissolvable coatings insulatively covering respective pairs of open connections, each of said transmitting means having respectively different identifiable frequency characteristics.

4. A method comprising the steps of simultaneously administering a plurality of transponders each having an electronic circuit therein, each of said transponders having standard dissolvable materials digestively responding to different standardized stimulants, said materials respectively causing an electrical characteristic of said transponders to vary as said material is dissolved, injecting said stimulants, and continuously determining the response of said transponders to digestive activity to provide a physiological profile, whereby reference data may be obtained to provide a basis of diagnosing disease.

5. The process of claim 1 in which said coating is selected from the following groups:

pancreas activity;

carbohydrate, protein, fat;

liver and gall bladder activity;

cholesterol.

6. The process of claim 1 in which said stimulant is selected from the following groups:

for pancreas activity - urecholine, pancreozymin, secretion, mecholyl; and

for liver and gall bladder activity - lipid, cholecystokinin, adrenaline (epinephrine), pitressin, histamine, mecholyl.