Analysis and visualization methods using manometry data

Abstract

A system and methods that provide for visualization and/or characterization of manometry data. Visual representations of pressure information represent pressure information measured over time by sensors positioned within an organism. Markers may be provided on the visual representations. Using the system and methods described herein, various characteristics of an organism and/or events that occur within the organism may be determined.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of visually representing physiological data measured over time by a plurality of sensors positioned in an organism, comprising:
 (A) providing a first display representing a region in an organism;   (B) providing movable markers in the first display, each movable marker representing in the region a respective position in the organism, the movable markers being movable along a spatial dimension within the first display representing the region in an organism; and   (C) concurrently to step (A), providing in a second display, for each marker in the first display, a visual representation of physical property measured over time at the position in the region represented by the marker.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the movable markers are spaced a fixed distance apart from each other along the spatial dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (D) in response to moving a movable marker to a different position in the first region, providing in the second display, for the movable marker, a visual representation of physiological values measured over time at the different position.   
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein step (C) comprises providing, in the second display, for each movable marker, a line trace corresponding to physiological values measured over time at the position represented by the marker. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (D) locating a sphincter region using the first and second displays.   
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (D) providing, in the second display, a visual control module enabling a user to move movable markers along the spatial dimension.   
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 6 , comprising moving a movable marker by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein step (C) comprises providing in the second display a visual representation of physiological information at least partially based on interpolated physiological values, the interpolated physiological values representing physiological information for positions in the organism between positions of the sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the physiological values are selected from a group consisted of pressure values, temperature values, pH values, temperature values and impedance values. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 9 , further comprising locating a pressure inversion point using the first and second displays. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 9 , further comprising locating a region of interest in the organism. 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 11 , where locating the region of interest comprises determining the position of the region of interest in the organism from information viewable in the first and second displays. 
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein locating the region of interest in the organism comprises:
 viewing, in the second display, a first visual representation of pressure values over time at a position represented by a first movable marker, and   viewing a second visual representation of pressure values measured over time at a position represented by a second movable marker of the movable set of markers.   
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein determining the position of the region of interest in the organism from the first and second displays comprises determining that the first visual representation is substantially 180° phase-shifted with respect to the second visual representation. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 14 , wherein determining the position of the region of interest in the organism from the first and second displays comprises determining, based, at least partially, on the determination that the first visual representation is substantially 180° phase-shifted with respect to the second visual representation, whether a pressure inversion point is between the position represented by the first movable marker and the position represented by the second movable marker. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein determining the position of the region of interest in the organism from the first and second displays comprises determining, at least partially based on the visual representation, a first position, represented by a movable marker, corresponding to a maximum resting pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein determining the position of the region of interest in the organism from the first and second displays comprises determining, based at least partially on the determination of the first position, that a sphincter is located at the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein locating the region of interest in the organism comprises determining, at least partially based on a visual representation, a position represented by a movable marker, which corresponds to a maximum of respiratory cycle pressure minima. 
     
     
         19 . A system for visually representing pressure data measured over time by a plurality of sensors positioned within an organism, the system comprising:
 a region location module configured to,
 provide a first display representing a region in an organism; 
 provide moveable markers in the first display, each movable marker representing a position in the region and movable along a spatial dimension in the first display; and 
 provide in a second display, for each movable marker, a visual representation of physiological values measured over time at a position in the region represented by the movable marker. 
   
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of visually representing, on a display device, pressure data measured over time by a plurality of sensors positioned within an organism, the method comprising:
 (A) providing a first display representing a region within the organism;   (B) providing movable markers in the first display, each movable marker representing a position in the region, the movable markers movable along a spatial dimension in the first display; and   (C) concurrently to step (A), providing in a second display, for each movable marker, a visual representation of pressure information measured over time at the position in the region represented by the movable marker.