Minimally-invasive measurement of esophageal inflammation
AssigneesThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
InventorsGlenn T. Furuta, Steven J. Ackerman
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Abstract
The methods and apparatus of the present invention allow the evaluation of inflammation of the esophagus. Measurements may be utilized, for example, to diagnose a disease of the esophagus, to monitor inflammation of the esophagus, or to access the treatment of a disease of the esophagus. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method for measuring esophageal inflammation comprising deploying a device into the esophagus of a subject, removing the device after a predetermined period of time, analyzing the device for a diagnostic indicator of esophageal inflammation and evaluating the diagnostic indicator to diagnose esophageal inflammation.
Claims39
A method for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) comprising:
- (a) deploying a capture element into the esophagus of a subject, said capture element being comprised in a pharmaceutical capsule having an opening, a malleable drag material within the capsule, and said capture element comprising a line embedded in the drag material and running through the opening of the capsule;
- (b) removing the device after a predetermined period of time during which said capture element is disposed in the esophagus of said subject;
- (c) analyzing the capture element for the presence of an inflammatory protein that is a diagnostic indicator of GERD or EoE;
- and
- (d) evaluating the inflammatory protein to diagnose GERD or EoE.
A method for assessing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) comprising:
- (a) deploying a capture element into the esophagus of a subject, said capture element comprised in a pharmaceutical capsule having an opening, a malleable drag material within the capsule, and said capture element comprising a line embedded in the drag material and running through the opening of the capsule;
- (b) removing the device after a predetermined period of time during which said capture element is disposed in the esophagus of said subject;
- (c) analyzing the capture element for the presence of an inflammatory protein that is a diagnostic indicator of GERD or EoE;
- and
- (d) evaluating the inflammatory protein to assess prior or ongoing treatment of GERD or EoE.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.