A method for evaluating a gastrointestinal tract may include characterizing one or more disease parameters using objective measures obtained from imaging data of a gastrointestinal tract. The one or more disease parameters reflect a measure of at least one of lesions, ulcers, bleeding, stenosis, and vasculature. The method may also include using the one or more characterized disease parameters to classify a disease state.

An elongated device and a system that at the same time allow acquisition of temperature-related data of high spatial and temporal resolution from hollow structures together with other relevant data of physical or chemical variables. In a preferred embodiment infrared or visible light sensors are used to obtain thermal or color images from the inner surface during imposed change of the temperature in the lumen of the hollow structure. The disclosure makes it possible to evaluate thermal variations when the inner surface returns to pre-change thermal conditions. High-resolution data can be obtained with the disclosure. The disclosure further includes a system with rotators, injection pumps, a control unit and display operably coupled to one or more of the data acquisition and processing system.

The number n of times of chewing is counted by chewing number of times calculation means (13b.sub.2) based on a change in the distance l from a photoreflector (50), which is received together with time t by measurement value receiving means (13b.sub.1). To vary hardness h of a bag (30) to a stage that can be sensed, according to the number n of times of chewing, a required air pressure is set according to the current number n of times, based on a hardness/air pressure correspondence recording unit (13g) in which stages that have a significant difference therebetween and are stored in association with the number n of times of chewing are recorded. To realize the set air pressure inside the bag (30), the amount of sucking performed using a vacuum pump 20 is controlled by air pressure control means (13b.sub.4).

Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for obtaining optical images of a targeted object or scene such as a person's organ or tissue based on a fiber bundle having imaging optical fibers and optical phase modulation for improved imaging quality without using an objective lens to receive light from a target. Among its applications is an endoscope that bears no lens at the distal end, which affords miniaturization and bendability, and that has adjustable focal distance.

A probe for use with an imaging system, including a scanning device configured to receive a first light beam from a light source, a beam-divider configured to split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, and a focusing device configured to focus each of the second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest is disclosed.

A system for generating a digestive disease nourishment program includes a computing device configured to receive a digestive biomarker relating to a user, generate a digestive parameter as a function of the digestive disease biomarker, determine a digestive profile as a function of the digestive parameter. The computing system is configured to identify a nutrition element as a function of the digestive profile, wherein identifying includes determining, for each nutrition element, a nourishment score as a function of the effect of the nutrition element on the digestive profile and identifying the nutrition element as a function of the nourishment score. The system configured to generate a digestive disease nourishment program as a function of the nutrition element and the digestive profile.

A breath test and a breath test method for diagnosing abnormal gastric emptying using a .sup.13C labeled breath test meal by identifying the time of maximum excretion of .sup.13CO.sub.2 in the breath samples. The test and test method include supplying a subject with the breath test meal, collecting a breath sample of the subject at a plurality of time points after the subject consumes the meal, generating measurements of .sup.13CO.sub.2 excretion from the breath samples, identifying a time T.sub.max at which .sup.13CO.sub.2 excretion is maximal, comparing T.sub.max to a cut-off value. The subject may be diagnosed as having delayed gastric emptying if T.sub.max is greater than the T.sub.max cut-off value.

Systems and methods are provided to limit abdominal distension and alleviate uncomfortable side effects related to it—in patients treated in hydrocolonic preparation units. Systems may comprise a water delivery unit comprising a controllable water supply, configured to introduce water controllably into the patient's large intestine, a drainage configured to drain, by gravity, the introduced water with contents of the patient's large intestine and a controller. The drainage comprises a drainage pipe and sensor(s) such as camera(s) configured to continuously measure the amount of drained water drained by the drainage pipe. The controller is configured to control the water introduction with respect to the measured amount of drained water, keeping an amount of water retained in the patient below a specified water retention threshold to reduce uncomfortable side effects of abdominal distension.

Methods for treating gastrointestinal conditions, conditions associated with sympathetic and/or parasympathetic activity in the gastrointestinal organs, and conditions associated with central sympathetic and/or parasympathetic activity in a patient with therapeutic gastrointestinalneuromodulation and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods that at least partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate a gastrointestinal artery of a gastrointestinal organ of a patient. Sympathetic drive in the patient can thereby be reduced in a manner that treats the patient for the gastrointestinal condition.

Provided herein are pharmaceutical packages that include a pharmaceutical tablet or capsule, and a volatile medication adherence marker (MAM) contained on or in a MAM reservoir external to the pharmaceutical tablet or capsule. Also provided herein are methods of surface coating a pharmaceutical tablet or capsule with a volatile medication adherence marker (MAM) that include placing the pharmaceutical tablet or capsule in a sealed container with the volatile MAM contained on or in a MAM reservoir external to the pharmaceutical tablet or capsule, and maintaining the seal of the container for a sufficient time to allow MAM vapors from the volatile MAM reservoir to adsorb to onto a surface of the pharmaceutical tablet or capsule. Also provided are methods of medication adherence monitoring using such pharmaceutical tablets or capsules.