Ambulatory reflux monitoring system
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring gastroesophageal reflux comprising:
- (a) an electrical connector,(b) a gastroesophageal catheter with a distal end and a proximal end, with an impedance sensor attached to the catheter near the distal end and electrically communicating with said electrical connector at the proximal end,(c) an ambulatory recorder connected to said electrical connector adapted to record impedance data generated by said impedance sensor and communicated to the recorder through said connector, and(d) executable software, resident in the recorder, adapted to determine a presence of gastroesophageal reflux from said impedance data and graphically project said impedance data generated by said impedance sensor and communicated to said recorder through said connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ambulatory system for recording and analyzing gastroesophageal reflux is presented. The system comprises a digital recorder, an analysis software package and a catheter for measurement of changes in esophageal impedance. For the first time, gastroesophageal reflux can be detected with a pH above 4 (called alkaline reflux), which is the normal pH environment of the healthy esophagus. In addition, one embodiment of the invention allows for the determination of the direction of flow of the detected material in the esophagus, thus enabling the system to distinguish between swallowed saliva and alkaline gastroesophageal reflux. In yet a further embodiment, the present invention allows for recording and analysis of reflux on a non-invasive basis, by using pairs of externally worn impedance sensors. In another embodiment, the invention measures impedance simultaneously with other bio-parameters, such as pH or pressure.
187 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring gastroesophageal reflux comprising:
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(a) an electrical connector, (b) a gastroesophageal catheter with a distal end and a proximal end, with an impedance sensor attached to the catheter near the distal end and electrically communicating with said electrical connector at the proximal end, (c) an ambulatory recorder connected to said electrical connector adapted to record impedance data generated by said impedance sensor and communicated to the recorder through said connector, and (d) executable software, resident in the recorder, adapted to determine a presence of gastroesophageal reflux from said impedance data and graphically project said impedance data generated by said impedance sensor and communicated to said recorder through said connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for monitoring gastroesophageal reflux comprising:
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(a) a gastroesophageal catheter with a distal end and a proximal end, (b) an electrical connector at the proximal end of the catheter, (c) a first impedance sensor attached to the catheter near the distal end, said sensor electrically communicating with the electrical connector, said sensor further comprising a pair of gold rings encircling an outer surface of the catheter, about 2 mm apart, each gold ring electrically communicating with the electrical connector through a wire, (d) a second impedance sensor attached to the catheter, near the first sensor but closer to the proximal end of the catheter than the first sensor, said second sensor electrically communicating with the electrical connector, the second sensor comprising a pair of gold rings encircling the outer surface of the catheter, about 2 mm apart, each gold ring electrically communicating with the electrical connector through a wire, the first sensor being separated from the second sensor by about 1 cm, (e) an ambulatory recorder connected to said electrical connector adapted to record impedance data generated by said sensors and communicated through said connector, (f) executable software, resident in the recorder, adapted to determine a presence of gastroesophageal reflux from said impedance data and graphically project impedance data generated by said sensors and communicated to said recorder through said connector, (g) an output device for the data recorded in the recorder, the output device being one of (1) a display on the recorder, (2) a printer electrically connected to the recorder, (3) a modem electrically connected to the recorder, and (4) a connector electrically connected to the recorder, (h) a single gold ring, encircling the outer surface of the catheter, about 2 mm closer to the proximal end of the catheter than said first sensor, and electrically communicating to said electrical connector through a wire, and adapted to act variously as a pair with a first ring of the first sensor and a second ring of the first sensor as two alternate configurations of said first sensor, (i) a pH sensor attached near the distal end of the catheter, electrically communicating pH signals to the electrical connector, the recorder further adapted to record the pH signals, and the software further adapted to analyze and graphically project the pH data, and (j) a pressure sensor attached near the distal end of the catheter, electrically communicating pressure signals to the electrical connector, the recorder further adapted to record the pressure signals, and the software further adapted to analyze and graphically project the pressure signals.
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8. A method of monitoring gastroesophageal reflux, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a number of impedance sensors, each sensor adapted to generate electric impedance signals measuring impedance at a location in an esophagus, (b) electrically connecting said sensors to an electrical connector, (c) connecting an ambulatory recorder to the connector, the recorder adapted to record data communicated through the connector, (d) generating the impedance signals with the sensors, the impedance signals generated in a pattern determined by software resident in the recorder, (e) determining a presence of gastroesophageal reflux from said impedance signals (f) communicating the signals to the recorder through the connector, (g) recording the signals with the recorder, (h) analyzing and graphically projecting recorded data using the software resident in the recorder. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification