Non-invasive gut motility monitor
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for non-invasive monitoring of gut motility in a patient, comprising:
- a magnet sized to be ingestible by the patient;
a compass external of the patient directionally sensitive to movement of the magnet in the patient'"'"'s abdomen for monitoring of gut motility according to movements of the ingested magnet.
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Abstract
An apparatus (4) and method of non-invasive monitoring of gut motility. An ingestible magnet (10, M) is swallowed by the patient (12) and then linear and rotational movement is directionally detected by an external compass (14, 16). In preferred form, movements of the magnet (10, M) are recorded by a memory means (18) and graphically presented (20) over a period of predetermined time. An alternate embodiment includes multiple compasses (C1, C2) for directionally locating the magnet (10, M) within the patient (12).
204 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for non-invasive monitoring of gut motility in a patient, comprising:
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a magnet sized to be ingestible by the patient;
a compass external of the patient directionally sensitive to movement of the magnet in the patient'"'"'s abdomen for monitoring of gut motility according to movements of the ingested magnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of measuring gut motility in a patient, comprising the steps of:
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the patient swallowing an ingestible magnet;
providing a compass external of the patient'"'"'s abdomen for directionally sensing movement of the magnet in the patient; and
monitoring gut motility with the compass by measuring movement of the magnet within the patient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification