Diagnosis and treatment methods for entry of gastrointestinal contents into respiratory tract
AssigneesThe Regents of the University of California, Aradigm Corporation
InventorsIgor Gonda, Homer A. Boushey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of diagnosing in a subject for the purpose of determining if the subject's gastrointestinal contents has entered the subject's respiratory tract. The qualitative analysis can be also expanded into quantitative analysis, enabling the estimation of either the concentration, or the amount, or both, of the gastrointestinal contents that entered the respiratory tract. The invention also provides methods of treatment based on the identification of aspiration using the methods of the invention.
Claims34
A method of treating a subject suffering from entry of gastrointestinal fluid into
- the respiratory tract, comprising:
- orally administering to a subject a diagnostic formulation comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise a biocompatible material that is not destroyed in the gastrointestinal or respiratory tracts and a detectable label;
- allowing the formulation to remain in the subject over a period of time during which the subject would be expected to aspirate the formulation from the gastrointestinal tract into the respiratory tract;
- accessing respiratory fluid from the subject;
- analyzing the respiratory fluid to determine the concentration of label in the respiratory fluid;
- identifying a concentration of label in the respiratory fluid indicative of an aspiration of gastrointestinal fluid into the respiratory tract requiring medical treatment;
- and
- providing an intervention to prevent or reduce such aspirations in the subject.
A method of diagnosing respiratory fluid in a subject suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), comprising:
- orally administering to a subject suspected of suffering from gastro esophageal
- reflux disease (GERD) a formulation comprised of a plurality of particles comprised of fluorescein and carnauba wax;
- allowing the formulation to remain in the subject over a period of time during
- which the subject would be expected to aspirate the formulation from the gastrointestinal tract into the respiratory tract;
- accessing respiratory fluid from the subject;
- and
- analyzing the respiratory fluid to determine the presence of fluorescein, thereby determining if the subject aspirates gastrointestinal contents into the respiratory tract.
A diagnostic formulation for determining the presence of gastrointestinal contents in respiratory fluid, comprising:
- an ingestible liquid carrier;
- and
- a plurality of particles comprised of carnauba wax and a detectable label.
A method of treating a subject suffering from entry of gastrointestinal contents into the respiratory tract, comprising:
- orally administering to a subject a formulation comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise a biocompatible material that is not destroyed in the gastrointestinal or respiratory tracts and a detectable label;
- allowing the formulation to remain in the subject over a period of time during which the subject would be expected to aspirate the formulation from the gastrointestinal tract into the respiratory tract;
- accessing respiratory fluid from the subject;
- and
- analyzing the respiratory fluid to determine the concentration of detectable label in the respiratory fluid;
- determining if the concentration of detectable label in the respiratory fluid is indicative of aspiration of gastrointestinal contents into the respiratory tract requiring medical treatment, and
- administering to the subject a medical treatment to reduce or prevent such aspirations.
A method of treating a subject suffering from entry of gastrointestinal fluid into the respiratory tract, comprising:
- orally administering to a subject a diagnostic formulation comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise a detectable label encapsulated in carnauba wax;
- allowing the diagnostic formulation to remain in the subject over a period of time during which the subject would be expected to aspirate the formulation from the gastrointestinal tract into the respiratory tract;
- accessing respiratory fluid from the subject;
- analyzing the respiratory fluid to determine the concentration of label in the respiratory fluid;
- identifying a concentration of label in the respiratory fluid indicative of an aspiration of gastrointestinal fluid into the respiratory tract requiring medical treatment;
- and
- providing an intervention to prevent or reduce such aspirations in the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.