Method and apparatus for the localization of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
First Claim
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1. A method for the localization of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract comprising:
- (a) introduction of a double lumen tube into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient,(b) introduction of a physiological solution into the gastrointestinal tract through one of the tubes of said double-lumen tube, and simultaneous withdrawal of the physiological solution contaminated with gastric or intestinal fluid through the other tube of said double-lumen tube out of the body of the patient,(c) continuously testing said contaminated solution for the presence of hemoglobin,(d) changing the location of the end of said double-lumen tube in the gastrointestinal tract by a measurable distance and repeating steps (b) and (c) above,(e) ascertaining the depth of tube penetration into the gastrointestinal tract at which the level of hemoglobin in the contaminated solution was maximal.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for the localization of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method wherein gastric or intestinal contents at different locations in the gastrointestinal tract are continuously checked for their hemoglobin contents. The invention also relates to an apparatus adapted to carry out the method of the invention.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for the localization of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract comprising:
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(a) introduction of a double lumen tube into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, (b) introduction of a physiological solution into the gastrointestinal tract through one of the tubes of said double-lumen tube, and simultaneous withdrawal of the physiological solution contaminated with gastric or intestinal fluid through the other tube of said double-lumen tube out of the body of the patient, (c) continuously testing said contaminated solution for the presence of hemoglobin, (d) changing the location of the end of said double-lumen tube in the gastrointestinal tract by a measurable distance and repeating steps (b) and (c) above, (e) ascertaining the depth of tube penetration into the gastrointestinal tract at which the level of hemoglobin in the contaminated solution was maximal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for determining the location of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract comprising:
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(a) means for introducing and withdrawing a physiological solution into and from the gastrointestinal tract of a patient at equal flow rates, and (b) means for continuously testing the withdrawn solution for the presence of hemoglobin; the means of paragraphs (a) and (b) further comprising; (i) a mixing head; (ii) a first pump means adapted to introduce saline into the gastrointestinal tract of patient through a double lumen tube and to withdraw contaminated saline from the gastrointestinal tract into said mixing head; (iii) a second pump means adapted to introduce reagents which react with hemoglobin to form a detectable product into said mixing head; and (iv) a detector for detecting the chemical reaction product. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for the localization of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, which comprises continuously sampling gastric or intestinal fluids from the tract without diminishing GI fluid volume while continuously moving a sampling means along the tract, testing the samples for hemoglobin content, and ascertaining the point in the tract where the sample having the highest hemoglobin content was taken.
Specification