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.

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.

The present disclosure relates to compounds that are useful as near-infrared fluorescence probes, wherein the compounds include i) a pteroyl ligand that binds to a target receptor protein, ii) a dye molecule, and iii) a linker molecule that comprises an amino acid or derivative thereof. The disclosure further describes methods and compositions for incorporating the compounds as used for the targeted imaging of tumors. Conjugation of the amino acid linking groups increase specificity and detection of the compound. Methods and compositions for use thereof in diagnostic imaging are contemplated.

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.

Described herein are methods of managing eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in a patient, wherein the patient records the number of episodes of dysphagia on a patient report outcome (PRO) questionnaire prior to and during the course of treatment. While on treatment, the number of episodes of dysphagia are reduced, as reported on the PRO questionnaire. In some embodiments, the esophageal eosinophils are counted before or after treatment, or both. In some embodiments, esophageal eosinophils counts are not correlated with a reduction in the episodes of dysphagia.

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.

The present invention relates to a system (1; 1A) for use in connection with mechanical ventilation of a patient (3), provided by a ventilator (5). The system comprises a sensor arrangement (7; 7A; 7B) configured to register at least one signal (S.sub.LP; S.sub.LP(TA), S.sub.LP(CT); S.sub.e1-5; S.sub.e11-12), herein referred to as LP signal, related to muscular activity of at least one muscle (17, 19) in the laryngopharyngeal region (9) of said patient (3). Furthermore, the system comprises at least one control unit (11; 11A, 11B) configured to control the operation of said ventilator (5) based on said at least one LP signal, and/or to cause display of information related to said at least one LP signal on a display unit (13A, 13B) for monitoring said patient (3) and/or the operation of the ventilator (5).

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 system may include an expandable member, and a plurality of sensors disposed on an outer surface of the expandable member and circumferentially spaced apart from one another, wherein each of the plurality of sensors includes a first emitter configured to emit light of a first wavelength, and a detector configured to detect light, and a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors.

Systems and methods for measuring and monitoring intracavitary tissue temperature. The system may include a catheter shaft with a circuit board disposed therein, the circuit board having an array of sensors disposed thereon. The catheter shaft may have an opening and an expandable structure surrounding the opening to provide a field of view of the intracavitary tissue for the array of sensors through the opening. The system may include a software-based programming system run on a computer such that a clinician may review information indicative of temperature of the intracavitary tissue, and be alerted if the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold.