Determining the progression of reflux disease in the esophagus of a patient includes identifying the location of an endoscopic gastroesophageal junction in the esophagus, removing a length of tissue of the esophagus that includes a portion of the endoscopic gastroesophageal junction, and identifying the proximal limit of tissue containing cardiac epithelium. Determining the length of the squamo-oxyntic gap of the biopsied tissue can involve measuring the length of tissue extending between the proximal limit of tissue containing gastric oxyntic epithelium to the proximal limit of tissue containing cardiac epithelium. A linear relationship can be determined from a slope of a line extending between a first data point and a second data point that can determine a target age of the patient when the lower esophageal sphincter will have a certain length.

The present specification discloses devices and methodologies for the treatment of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (tLESRs). Individuals with tLESRs may be treated by implanting a stimulation device within the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. The presently disclosed devices have a simplified design because they do not require sensing systems capable of sensing when a person is engaged in a wet swallow and have improved energy storage requirements.

An implantable capsule includes a capsule, an adsorption hole, a pH detector, two impedance sensors and a pose sensor. The capsule includes a first shell, a second shell and the first shell and the second shell defines an accommodating space. The adsorption hole is disposed at the first shell and attaches to the tube wall of the esophagus by the external force. The pH detector is disposed at the second shell to measure the pH value of the esophageal fluid. Two impedance sensors are disposed at the first shell and the second shell. The two impedance sensors measure the impedance of the esophageal fluid to determine the fluid direction of the esophageal fluid. The pose sensor is disposed at the second shell to determine the patient pose. By this configuration, lightweight and wireless gastroesophageal monitoring device and the long-time measurement of pH of the esophageal fluid may be achieved.

A catheter includes a distal distension balloon and circumferentially arranged motility measurement balloons proximal of the distension balloon. A manifold includes balloon ports each configured to fluidly couple to a motility measurement balloon, pressure transducer ports, and a priming port. A port selector is coupled to the manifold and movable between different positions. Each port selector position causes the manifold to establish different fluidic couplings between the respective motility balloon, pressure transducer, and priming ports. A pressure sensing device includes pressure transducers each fluidly coupled to one of the pressure transducer ports. The pressure sensing device is configured to coordinate calibration of the pressure transducers at atmospheric pressure with the port selector in a first position and motility balloon pressure measurements with the port selector in a third position. Priming of the motility measurement balloons is implemented by moving the port selector to a second position.

A smart device that monitors the condition of the lower esophagus by means of cameras, pH sensors, and other biometric sensors. The device may be equipped with movable arms that facilitate the collection of tissue biopsies from the esophagus as well as a reservoir that contains a medicament such as an antacid or other medicament useful for treating GERD. Data from the cameras and sensors may be transmitted and processed outside of the body and used to diagnose and treat esophageal disorders and can provide early detection of esophageal cancer or to treat GERD.

According to one aspect, an implantable medical device may include an anchor assembly configured to anchor the medical device to a body lumen. The implantable medical device may also include a capsule. The capsule may include a pH sensor. The pH sensor may be configured to measure a pH of contents within the body lumen. The capsule may also include a power source, a controller, and an impedance sensor. The impedance sensor may be configured to measure an impedance within the body lumen.

A catheter includes a distal distension balloon and circumferentially arranged motility measurement balloons proximal of the distension balloon. A manifold includes balloon ports each configured to fluidly couple to a motility measurement balloon, pressure transducer ports, and a priming port. A port selector is coupled to the manifold and movable between different positions. Each port selector position causes the manifold to establish different fluidic couplings between the respective motility balloon, pressure transducer, and priming ports. A pressure sensing device includes pressure transducers each fluidly coupled to one of the pressure transducer ports. The pressure sensing device is configured to coordinate calibration of the pressure transducers at atmospheric pressure with the port selector in a first position and motility balloon pressure measurements with the port selector in a third position. Priming of the motility measurement balloons is implemented by moving the port selector to a second position.

According to one aspect, an implantable medical device may include an anchor assembly configured to anchor the medical device to a body lumen. The implantable medical device may also include a capsule. The capsule may include a pH sensor. The pH sensor may be configured to measure a pH of contents within the body lumen. The capsule may also include a power source, a controller, and an impedance sensor. The impedance sensor may be configured to measure an impedance within the body lumen.

A method for diagnosing gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), comprising: introducing an endoscope into a stomach of a subject; measuring a pressure in the stomach while supplying gas into the stomach using the endoscope; and determining whether the subject has GERD or not based on a maximum value of the pressure and a wave pattern of a value of the pressure.

A method for at least one of characterizing, diagnosing, and treating a condition associated with microbiome taxonomic features in at least a subject, the method comprising: receiving an aggregate set of biological samples from a population of subjects; generating at least one of a microbiome composition dataset and a microbiome functional diversity dataset for the population of subjects; generating a characterization of the condition based upon features extracted from at least one of the microbiome composition dataset and the microbiome functional diversity dataset; based upon the characterization, generating a therapy model configured to correct the condition; and at an output device associated with the subject, promoting a therapy to the subject based upon the characterization and the therapy model.