THE PROBLEM
Gastrointestinal Motility – the movement of what begins as food through the digestive tract – is key to multiple disorders and dysfunctions experienced by tens of millions in the US. Yet there is currently no good way to measure it. The G-Tech wireless wearable patch system now under development will provide continuous monitoring of the motor activity of the digestive tract conveniently and non-invasively under realistic physiological conditions, over multiple days.
Digestive Disorders, Dysfunctions and Diseases
Patients suffering from various GI disorders at home represent a major healthcare burden and a very large market, whether it be in the form of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or an IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). IBD affects motility even when the patient is not experiencing a flare. Aside from the 1.4 million IBD patients in the US, IBS and similar functional GI disorders are commonly accepted as affecting about 15% of the population and total over 40 million office visits a year driven by chronic abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and nausea. The problem with diagnosing, treating, and monitoring these disorders lies in the lack of a way to measure function, or motility, of the digestive system. Such information would allow physicians to pinpoint a course of treatment more quickly and effectively.
Post surgical patient monitoring and recovery
Post abdominal surgery, patients experience digestive dysfunction that often leads to development of ileus . Post-operative ileus extends hospital stay, adds thousands of dollars to the cost of care and increases the likelihood of readmission. Physicians currently lack the information required to monitor resumption of a patient’s digestive function post surgery. Having such information would help the staff to objectively determine when a patient is ready to begin feeding (and when not), whether they are progressing normally or developing post-op ileus, and when they are ready to be discharged.
