Abstract: A method for evaluating gastric and upper small intestine motility and emptying in a gastrointestinal tract of a subject using magnetic resonance imaging includes administering a contrast agent to the subject; acquiring, using an MRI system, a set of MR data from the subject using a three-dimensional volumetric pulse sequence. The volumetric pulse sequence has a temporal resolution and a spatial resolution configured to facilitate measurement of volumetric and motility parameters. The method further includes reconstructing a set of images using the set of MR data, segmenting each image in the set of images to isolate a region of interest in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, determining at least one volumetric and motility parameter based on the set of segmented images, and generating a report indicating the at least one volumetric or motility parameter.

Abstract: A method for evaluating gastric and upper small intestine motility and emptying in a gastrointestinal tract of a subject using magnetic resonance imaging includes administering a contrast agent to the subject; acquiring, using an MRI system, a set of MR data from the subject using a three-dimensional volumetric pulse sequence. The volumetric pulse sequence has a temporal resolution and a spatial resolution configured to facilitate measurement of volumetric and motility parameters. The method further includes reconstructing a set of images using the set of MR data, segmenting each image in the set of images to isolate a region of interest in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, determining at least one volumetric and motility parameter based on the set of segmented images, and generating a report indicating the at least one volumetric or motility parameter.

Abstract: A pharmaceutically acceptable oral dosage form for delivery of an agent to an intestinal site has one or more active agent regions having an active agent to be delivered to the intestinal site, one or more drying agent regions having at least one drying agent therein capable of drying an area about the intestinal site, the one or more drying agent regions being separate from the one or more active agent regions, and a protective coating at least partially covering a surface of the form. The dosage form has a fluid uptake capacity as measured for the entire dosage form when immersed in a fluid media according to a Dosage Form Fluid Uptake Assay of at least about 20 g fluid per dosage form.

Abstract: A method of evaluating gastroparesis comprising the steps of providing an ingestible capsule having a pH sensor and a pressure sensor, having a subject ingest the capsule, recording pH measurements from the pH sensor as a function of time as the capsule moves through at least a portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, recording pressure measurements from the pressure sensor as a function of time as the capsule moves through at least a portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, determining the capsule's location at a first position in the gastrointestinal tract, deriving a pressure pattern as a function of time and the pressure measurements, providing a reference pressure pattern, and analyzing the subject's pressure pattern relative to the reference pressure pattern to evaluate the subject with respect to gastroparesis. The location may be the junction between the stomach and the small bowel of the subject.

Abstract: A method of determining the location of an ingested capsule comprising the steps of providing an ingestible capsule having a pH sensor and a pressure sensor, having a subject ingest the capsule, recording pH measurements from the pH sensor as a function of time as the capsule moves through at least a portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, recording pressure measurements from the pressure sensor as a function of time as the capsule moves through at least a portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, deriving a pressure pattern as a function of time and the pressure measurements, providing a reference pH, analyzing the pH variations for the subject relative to the reference pH to determine the capsule's location at a first position, providing a reference pressure pattern, and analyzing the pressure pattern variations for the subject relative to the pressure pattern reference to determine the capsule's location at a second position.