Peristaltic propulsion device and system and methods of use thereof

A system, comprising:

• a tissue bath;
• a portion of an intestine positioned within the tissue bath,
• wherein the portion of the intestine has a first end and a second end, and
• wherein the portion of the intestine extends in a longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end;
• a pump coupled to the first end of the portion of the intestine and configured to pump a fluid through the portion of the intestine;
• a light source positioned to illuminate the portion of the intestine;
• at least one camera positioned to capture a corresponding at least one stream of images showing movement of the portion of the intestine when illuminated by the light source;
• a pressure transducer coupled to the portion of the intestine so as to detect an intraluminal pressure within the portion of the intestine;
• and
• a computing system coupled to the at least one camera and to the pressure transducer,
• wherein the computing system includes:
• a processor, and
• a non-transitory memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive the at least one stream of images,
• identify a plurality of locations along the portion of the intestine in each image of the at least one stream of images in real time,
• measure an edge width at each of the plurality of locations along the portion of the intestine in each image of the stream of images in real time;
• and
• identify contractions in the portion of the intestine based on the measured edge widths at each of the plurality of locations.

A method, comprising:

• operating a system including:
• a tissue bath;
• a portion of an intestine positioned within the tissue bath,
• wherein the portion of the intestine has a first end and a second end, and
• wherein the portion of the intestine extends in a longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end;
• a pump coupled to the first end of the portion of the intestine and configured to pump a fluid through the portion of the intestine;
• a light source positioned to illuminate the portion of the intestine;
• at least one camera positioned to capture a corresponding at least one stream of images showing movement of the portion of the intestine;
• a pressure transducer coupled to the portion of the intestine so as to measure an intraluminal pressure within the portion of the intestine;
• and
• a computing system coupled to the at least one camera and to the pressure transducer, wherein the computing system includes:
• a processor, and
• a non-transitory memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive the at least one stream of images,
• identify a plurality of locations along the portion of the intestine in each image of the at least one stream of images in real time,
• measure an edge width at each of the plurality of locations along the portion of the intestine in each image of the stream of images in real time;
• and
• identify contractions in the portion of the intestine based on the measured edge widths at each of the plurality of locations;
• providing a first formulation,
• wherein the first formulation comprises an active ingredient in a solution;
• utilizing the pump to pump the first formulation through the portion of the intestine;
• receiving, by the computing system, the at least one stream of images showing movement of the portion of the intestine while the first formulation is pumped through the portion of the intestine;
• identifying, by the computing system, the plurality of locations along the portion of the intestine in each image of the at least one stream of images in real time;
• measuring, by the computing system, the edge width at each of the plurality of locations along the portion of the intestine in each image of the stream of images in real time;
• identifying, by the computing system, contractions in the portion of the intestine based on the measured edge widths at each of the plurality of locations;
• determining at least one metric associated with the contractions;
• obtaining at least one benchmark metric associated with a second formulation;
• and
• determining an efficacy of the first formulation based on a comparison of the at least one metric to the at least one benchmark metric.

A method comprising:

• receiving, by at least one processor, a plurality of images from at least one image sensor,
• wherein the plurality of images depicts movement of an intestinal segment at a plurality of times;
• receiving, by the at least one processor, a plurality of pressure measurements from at least one pressure transducer associated with the intestinal segment,
• wherein the plurality of pressure measurements correspond to the plurality of times;
• determining, by the at least one processor, a pattern of fluid flow through the intestinal segment based at least in part on the plurality of images and the plurality pressure measurements,
• wherein the pattern of fluid flow comprises at least one of:
• at least one first metric for a direction of the fluid flow, or
• at least one second metric for a volume of the fluid flow;
• determining, by the at least one processor, at least one treatment protocol based on the pattern of fluid flow;
• and
• generating, by the at least one processor, at least one recommendation to a healthcare provider for the at least one treatment protocol.