Involuntary contraction induced pressure as a medical diagnostic tool using involuntary reflex cough test

A system for diagnosing a patient for a physiological abnormality, comprising:

• a nebulizer containing an agent that induces an involuntary reflex cough event within the patient that activates the nucleus ambiguous and medial motor cell column of the patient and stimulates involuntary cough activated paraspinal muscles in the pelvis of the patient;
• at least one electromyogram (EMG) pad configured to be attached to the lumbar region of the patient's back and obtain an EMG from involuntary cough activated paraspinal muscles;
• a catheter configured aid in measuring the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during the involuntary reflex cough event;
• and
• a processing device that receives the EMG and IAG and correlates the IAP with the EMG and duration of the involuntary reflex cough event to diagnosis a physiological abnormality in the patient.

A device for diagnosing a patient for a physiological abnormality, comprising:

• a housing configured for handheld use;
• at least one interface carried by the housing and configured to receive electromyogram (EMG) data from at least one sensor located at the paraspinal muscles in the pelvis of the patient that had been activated by an involuntary reflex cough event that activates the nucleus ambiguous and medial motor cell column of the patient, wherein said at least one interface is configured to receive intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) data obtained during the involuntary cough reflex test;
• and
• a processor carried by the housing and configured to receive the EMG and IAP and correlate the IAP with the EMG and duration of the involuntary reflex cough event to diagnose a physiological deficiency.