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 includes obtaining a first physiological parameter indicative of a non-invasively measured airway pressure of a subject, obtaining a second physiological parameter indicative of a non-invasively measured air flow into the lungs of the subject, and estimating a third physiological parameter indicative of an intra-pleural pressure of the subject based on the first and second physiological parameters and generating a signal indicative thereof. An other method includes obtaining a first physiological parameter indicative of a non-invasively estimated intra-pleural pressure of a subject, determining a second physiological parameter indicative of a lung volume of the subject that is based on a third physiological parameter indicative of a non-invasively measured air flow into the lungs of the subject, and determining a work of breathing based on the first and second physiological parameters and generating a signal indicative thereof.

A method for detecting disease using a manometry includes obtaining pressure values from each of the plurality of pressure sensors during a pre-set time, obtaining a three-dimensional pressure distribution showing the changes in the pressure values according to location and time by using the time, the pressure values, and locations in which the pressure sensors are disposed within the arbitrary location section, and calculating the volume integral value of the interest location which is predetermined in accordance with the disease, in the three-dimensional pressure distribution.

A method of reducing the likelihood of shivering comprises monitoring at least one physiological characteristic in a human or animal subject to detect preshivering and acting to reduce the likelihood of shivering when preshivering is detected.

A method for detecting disease using a manometry includes obtaining pressure values from each of the plurality of pressure sensors during a pre-set time, obtaining a three-dimensional pressure distribution showing the changes in the pressure values according to location and time by using the time, the pressure values, and locations in which the pressure sensors are disposed within the arbitrary location section, and calculating the volume integral value of the interest location which is predetermined in accordance with the disease, in the three-dimensional pressure distribution.

The present invention relates to methods for assessing swallowing motor function in a subject. The methods rely on obtaining intraluminal impedance and pressure measurements from the pharynx and/or esophagus of the subject during clearance of a bolus from the mouth and/or throat of the subject. The intraluminal impedance and pressure measurements are combined to derive a value for one or more pressure-flow variables in the pharynx and/or the esophagus of the subject. The value of the one or more pressure-flow variables is compared to a predetermined pharyngeal and/or esophageal reference value for the one or more pressure-flow variables in order to provide an assessment of swallowing motor function in the subject. The intraluminal impedance and pressure measurements can also be combined to generate a swallow risk index for the subject or to generate an obstructive risk index for the subject based on a combination of a value of more than one pressure-flow variable in the pharynx and/or esophagus of the subject. In this way, swallowing motor function in the subject can be assessed by comparing the swallow risk index or obstructive risk index for the subject to a predetermined reference swallow index or predetermined reference obstructive index, respectively. Products which make use of these methods are also encompassed by the present invention.

An esophageal device is used to recognize, diagnose, characterize, or relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the esophageal device measures a UES response to esophageal fluid infusion to detect or characterize an abnormality or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. An Upper Esophageal Sphincter compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the Upper Esophageal Sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality.

There is provided a system for managing reflux during an enteral feeding, comprising: (i) a non-transitory memory having stored thereon a code for execution by at least one hardware processor of a computing device, the code comprising: code for receiving electrical signals outputted by at least one reflux event sensor disposed within a digestive system of a patient; code for determining a gastric reflux event based on an analysis of the electrical signals; code for outputting instructions to pause enteral feeding of the patient by a feeding controller that regulates enteral feeding of the patient using an enteral feeding tube positioned within the digestive system of the patient; and (ii) an evacuation controller that directs back-flow of digestive contents from the digestive system of the patient to an external evacuation reservoir through an evacuation tube.

An esophageal device is used to recognize, diagnose, characterize, or relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the esophageal device measures a UES response to esophageal fluid infusion to detect or characterize an abnormality or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. An Upper Esophageal Sphincter compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the Upper Esophageal Sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality.

The present disclose generally relates to systems and methods for active titration of one or more cranial or peripheral nerve stimulators to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The active titration can be accomplished in an automated fashion by a closed-loop process. The closed-loop process can be executed by a computing device that includes a non-transitory memory storing instructions and a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations. The operations can include defining initial parameters for the one or more cranial or peripheral nerve stimulators for a patient; receiving sensor data from sensors associated with the patient based on a stimulation with the one or more cranial or peripheral stimulators programmed according to the initial parameters; and adjusting the initial parameters based on the sensor data.