Apparatus and method for use in analyzing a patient's bowel

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for use in studying a patient's bowel which combines recording and analysis of physiologic parameters and patient sensory perception. A pain input detector, a pain transducer, and a processor are provided. A gas pressure transducer and flow meter may also be provided. Output data may be generated to reflect perceived patient pain, volume of gas delivered to the patient's bowel, and bowel pressure. An indication of perceived patient pain is processed by the processor to generate data that may used to validate a scan of a patient or may be used as a diagnostic tool.

1 . An apparatus for use in studying a patient's colon, comprising:
 a. a flow meter for measuring a flow of gas to be supplied to a colon of a patient for providing an output gas volume parameter dependent on a volume of gas supplied to the patient's colon;   b. a gas pressure transducer for communicating with the patient for producing an output gas pressure parameter dependent on a pressure of the gas within the colon of the patient;   c. a detector communicating with the patient for detecting a sensation perceived by the patient and for providing an output sensation parameter indicative of the sensation perceived by the patient; and   d. a processor communicating with the gas pressure transducer, the detector and the flow meter to generate an output reflecting at least one or any combination of the output parameters.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detector includes a pain sensor communicating with the patient for sensing pain and a transducer communicating with the pain sensor for providing the output sensation parameter in response to the pain sensor. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor generates the output representing any one or combination of the sensation parameter reflecting an indication of pain perceived by the patient, the gas volume parameter reflecting gas volume in the colon, and the gas pressure parameter reflecting gas pressure in the colon. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processor generates the output for use in determining validity of a scan of the patient. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detector provides the sensation parameter to reflect onset of perceived pain. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detector provides the sensation parameter to reflect cessation of perceived pain. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detector provides the sensation parameter to indicate perceived pain as a function of time. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detector provides the sensation parameter to indicate magnitude of perceived pain as a function of time. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises a squeeze bulb that may be squeezed to change pressure at the squeeze bulb to reflect the perceived sensation. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the amount of pressure change created by the squeeze bulb indicates magnitude of pain perceived by the patient and wherein the detector includes a transducer to detect the pressure change indicated by the squeeze bulb to generate the sensation parameter to indicate the magnitude of the pressure change. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a length of squeeze of the squeeze bulb indicates duration of perceived patient pain and wherein the detector includes a transducer to detect a change in pressure relative to time indicated by the squeeze bulb to reflect the length of squeeze and to generate the sensation parameter indicating the duration of the squeeze. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein initial squeezing of the squeeze bulb creates a pressure change that indicates an onset of perceived patient pain and wherein the detector includes a transducer to detect the change in pressure indicated by the squeeze bulb to generate the sensation parameter to indicate the onset of perceived patient pain. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein release of the squeeze bulb creates a pressure change indicating cessation of pain and wherein the detector includes a transducer to detect the change in pressure indicated by the squeeze bulb to generate the sensation parameter to indicate the cessation of pain. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising signaling means to signal when the at least one or combination of output parameters reflects a predetermined condition used to validate a scan of the patient. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the signaling means indicates a condition favorable to scan the patient when the at least one or combination of output parameters is within a selected threshold. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the signaling means indicates a condition unfavorable to scan the patient when the at least one or combination of output parameters is outside of a selected threshold. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for use in studying a patient's colon, comprising:
 a. an input sensor communicating with a patient for detecting a sensation perceived by the patient upon insufflation of a patient's colon with gas;   b. a transducer communicating with the input sensor to provide at least one parameter indicative of the sensation perceived by the patient;   c. a processor communicating with the transducer to generate an output dependent on the parameter reflecting the perceived sensation, wherein the output is used to determine validity of a procedure.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , comprising signaling means to signal when the output reflects a predetermined condition to validate a scan of the patient. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , comprising a gas pressure transducer communicating with a patient's colon to provide at least one parameter indicative of pressure of gas within the colon of the patient, and wherein the processor communicates with gas pressure transducer so that the output generated by the processor reflects the pressure of the gas within the colon, wherein the output is used to determine validity of a scan of the patient. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for use in studying a patient's colon, comprising:
 a. a gas pressure transducer communicating with a patient's colon for indicating pressure of gas supplied within the colon of the patient;   b. a processor for communicating with the gas pressure transducer to generate an output reflecting pressure of the gas in the patient's colon; and   c. signaling means to signal when the output reflects a predetermined condition to validate a scan of the patient.