Systems and methods for home transdermal assessment of gastrointestinal function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11969268-B2
Application number	US-202117378059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2021
Priority date	Jul 24, 2020
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions thereon. When executed by the processor of a mobile computing device, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to wirelessly communicatively couple the mobile computing device to a GI sensor (optionally by displaying instructions on a pairing screen), display a sensor placement screen that instructs the user to place the GI sensor on a body of a patient, prompts the user to administer a GI agent into the body of the patient; transmit a signal from the mobile computing device to the GI sensor to cause the GI sensor to initiate collection of light absorbance data for calculating GI function of the patient; receive light absorbance data from the GI sensor, and store the received light absorbance data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor of a mobile computing device, cause the at least one processor of the mobile computing device to:
wirelessly communicatively couple the mobile computing device to a sensor;
display a sensor placement screen that instructs a user to place the sensor on a body of a patient;
display a customization screen that instructs the user to initiate customization of the sensor to a skin tone of the patient;
upon initiation of the customization of the sensor,
collect a background level of light absorbance that naturally emanates from the body of the patient for customization of the sensor; and
adjust a light strength or a detector sensitivity in the sensor to account for differing skin colors of different patients;

prompt the user to administer a fluorescent gastrointestinal (GI) agent into the body of the patient;
transmit a signal from the mobile computing device to the sensor to cause the sensor to initiate collection of light absorbance data for calculating a GI function measurement of the patient;
receive light absorbance data from the sensor; and
store the received light absorbance data.

2. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 , wherein to prompt the user to administer the fluorescent GI agent, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor of the mobile computing device to display an administration screen that instructs the user to administer the fluorescent GI agent.

3. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 , wherein to prompt the user to administer the fluorescent GI agent, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor of the mobile computing device to vibrate the mobile computing device.

4. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 , wherein to prompt the user to administer the fluorescent GI agent, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor of the mobile computing device to transmit a control signal from the mobile computing device to the sensor to cause the sensor to generate an audible, visual, or haptic alert that prompts the user to administer the fluorescent GI agent.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor of the mobile computing device to:
calculate the GI function measurement of the patient using the light absorbance data.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor of the mobile computing device to:
wirelessly transmit the GI function measurement of the patient to a computing device of a health care provider.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor of the mobile computing device to:
display an error message if an error occurs during execution of the instructions.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor of the mobile computing device displays a pairing screen on the mobile computing device that instructs a user to wirelessly communicatively couple the mobile computing device to a sensor.

9. A computer-implemented method for assessing gastrointestinal (GI) function in a patient in need thereof, the method implemented using a mobile computing device that comprises at least one processor in communication with at least one memory, and at least one user interface, the method comprising:
displaying a sensor placement screen that instructs a user to place a sensor on the body of a patient;
communicatively coupling the sensor on the body of the patient to the mobile computing device;
displaying a customization screen that instructs the user to initiate customization of the sensor to a skin tone of the patient;
upon initiation of the customization of the sensor,
collecting a background level of light absorbance that naturally emanates from the body of the patient for customization of the sensor; and
adjusting a light strength or a detector sensitivity in the sensor to account for differing skin colors of different patients;

prompting the user to administer a fluorescent GI agent into the body of the patient;
transmitting a signal from the mobile computing device to the sensor, the signal causing the sensor to initiate collection of light absorbance data; and
displaying a measurement screen that instructs the user to wait a predetermined period of time while the sensor collects the light absorbance data.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
displaying the customization screen that instructs the user on how to customize the sensor prior to initiating collection of light absorbance data.

11. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
calculating the GI function of the patient using the light absorbance data.

12. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
displaying a results screen that displays the calculated GI function of the patient.

13. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
transmitting from the mobile computing device to a computing device of a health care provider the calculated GI function measurement, the light absorbance data, or both.

14. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving patient/user input after each step in the computer implemented method, the patient/user input indicating that the step was successfully completed.

15. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
providing feedback to the user and/or patient if an error occurs at any time during execution of the method.

16. A system for assessing gastrointestinal (GI) function in a patient in need thereof, the system comprising:
a mobile computing device having installed thereon a computer program for assisting a user in assessing GI function in the patient;
a sensor configured to be wirelessly communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the sensor is configured to be customized to a skin tone of the patient; and
a fluorescent GI agent;
wherein the mobile computing device is configured to:
cause customization of the sensor by,
collecting a background level of light absorbance that naturally emanates from the body of the patient for customization of the sensor; and
adjusting a light strength or a detector sensitivity in the sensor to account for differing skin colors of different patients; and

transmit a signal to the sensor, the signal causing the sensor to initiate collection of light absorbance data.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the computer program on the mobile computing device is further configured to calculate the GI function of the patient using light absorbance data collected by the sensor.

18. A kit for gastrointestinal (GI) function assessment of a patient, the kit comprising:
a fluorescent GI agent configured to:
emit at least one response light in response to electromagnetic radiation generated by a sensor;

the sensor configured to:
attach to the body of a patient;
emit electromagnetic radiation in a direction of the body of the patient; and
detect at least one re

Assignees

• Medibeacon Inc

Inventors

• Dorshow Richard B
• Hanley Steven J
• Stern Terence
• Harr James

Classifications

• A61B5/742 Primary

  using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339) · CPC title

• A61B5/0064

  Body surface scanning · CPC title

• A61B5/0071 Primary

  by measuring fluorescence emission · CPC title

• A61B5/42

  Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems (A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/7405

  using sound · CPC title