Methods and apparatus for guiding medical care based on detected gastric function
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10687731-B2
Publication Date
2020-06-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments relate to guiding medical care based on detected gastric function. For example, gastric acid stimulant or suppressant is administered, and then a change in the gastric juice H+ concentration is measured. This change is compared to a guidance H+ concentration differential indicative of relatively healthy gastric function. Medical care is guided based on a relatively healthy gastric function if the measured H+ concentration differential is equal to or exceeds the guidance H+ concentration differential, while medical care is guided based on a relatively unhealthy gastric function if the measured H+ concentration differential is less than the guidance H+ concentration differential. Disclosed embodiments implementing this procedure include, but are not limited to, methods, apparatus, processors, computer programs, and computer-readable mediums.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a device for insertion into a stomach of a patient for use with enteral feeding. The device includes an indwelling tube having a length and one or more impedance sensors attached along the length of the indwelling tube, configured to detect a presence or passage of a bolus transitioning through the stomach.
A controller in communication with the one or more impedance sensors determines measurements of a volume of gastric contents by correlating the presence or passage of the bolus transitioning through the stomach to the volume of gastric contents. The measurements of gastric contents volume provide guidance via the controller for patient care.
The disclosure further includes patient-care decision support in the context of enteral feeding by using gastric contents volume measurements. Refinements include providing a nutritional readiness score calculated from the measurements of gastric volume and comparing a patient’s gastric volume measurements with aggregate gastric volume measurements derived from other patients with correlated profile data.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim set includes one independent claim focused on an enteral-feeding stomach-insertable device that uses impedance sensing of a transitioning bolus to estimate gastric contents volume and provide patient-care guidance via a controller.
Stomach-insertable enteral-feeding impedance sensing device for bolus passage and gastric volume guidance
A device for insertion into a stomach of a patient for use with enteral feeding, comprising an indwelling tube having a length and one or more impedance sensors attached along the length of the indwelling tube and configured to detect a presence or passage of a bolus transitioning through the stomach, and a controller in communication with the one or more impedance sensors that determines measurements of a volume of gastric contents by correlating the presence or passage of the bolus transitioning through the stomach to the volume of gastric contents such that the measurements of the volume of gastric contents provide guidance via the controller for patient care.
The claim concept is centered on impedance sensor detection of a transitioning bolus within the stomach, correlation to gastric contents volume, and controller-based patient-care guidance, including embodiments that generate a nutritional readiness score and provide comparative benchmarking using aggregate measurements derived from other patients with correlated profile data.
Stated Advantages
Provides patient-care guidance for enteral feeding based on measurements of the volume of gastric contents.
Enables derivation of a nutritional readiness score based on measurements of gastric volume for patient-care guidance.
Supports comparison of a patient’s gastric volume measurements with aggregate measurements derived from other patients with correlated profile data.
Documented Applications
Use with enteral feeding via a device inserted into the stomach of a patient, where gastric contents volume measurements provide guidance for patient care.
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