Apparatus and method for use in analyzing a patient's bowel
AssigneeUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore
InventorDavid J. Vining
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
An apparatus configured to provide a representation indicative of a scanning condition of a patient's colon, the apparatus comprising:
- a pressure transducer configured to detect a pressure level of gas within a patient's colon and to generate an output indicative of the pressure level of gas detected;
- a flow meter configured to detect a volume level of gas delivered to the patient's colon and to generate an output indicative of the volume level of gas detected;
- a visual display;
- a processor in communication with the pressure transducer, the flow meter, and the visual display;
- circuitry in communication with the processor, wherein the circuitry is configured to monitor a period of time over which the pressure level is detected and maintained within a predetermined range of pressures;
- and
- a sensory transducer configured to detect a patient's pain level and to generate an output indicative of the pain level detected,
- wherein the processor is configured to receive the outputs from the pressure transducer the flow meter, the circuitry, and the sensory transducer and to cause the visual display to present a representation of at least one of the pressure level or the volume level detected within the patient's colon and the pain level detected.
A method for providing a representation indicative of a scanning condition of a patient's colon comprising:
- insufflating a patient's colon with gas;
- detecting, via a pressure transducer, a pressure level of the gas within the patient's colon;
- generating, via the pressure transducer, an output indicative of the pressure level detected;
- detecting, via a flow meter, a volume level of gas delivered to the patient's colon;
- generating, via the flow meter, an output indicative of the volume level detected;
- monitoring, via a circuitry in communication with the processor, a period of time over which the pressure level is detected and maintained within a predetermined range of pressures;
- detecting, via a sensory transducer, a pain level of the patient;
- generating, via the sensory transducer, an output indicative of the pain level detected;
- receiving, via a processor in communication with the pressure transducer, the output indicative of the pressure level detected;
- receiving, via the processor in communication with the flow meter, the output indicative of the volume level detected;
- receiving, via the processor in communication with the sensory transducer, the output indicative of the pain level detected;
- and
- presenting, via a display in communication with the processor, a representation of the pain level detected and at least one of the pressure level detected or the volume level detected over time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.