Intraluminal ultrasonic probe for volumetric monitoring of liquid gastroesophageal reflux.

Methods for volumetric monitoring of liquid gastroesophageal reflux (GER) are still lacking. The aim of this study was to develop an automated intraluminal measurement technique which allows ambulatory volumetric quantification of liquid GER utilizing a minimum-cost intraluminal ultrasonic probe. This probe consists of two 2 MHz ultrasonic crystals longitudinally assembled along a multi-channel intraluminal impedance (MII) catheter. The proposed probe was initially tested with tubular phantoms of different diameters. Measurements of the cross-sectional areas of the phantoms showed high correlation with the actual areas (R(2) = 0.99). Subsequently, two in-vivo human tests were performed. For each human test the catheter assembly was inserted transnasally and the ultrasonic probe was placed in the area of the lower esophageal sphincter. Multiple liquid swallows of different volumes were invoked using electrolyte drinks. Sectional luminal volume (SLV) in the esophagus between the two ultrasonic crystals was obtained. Results of the swallows demonstrated that measured SLVs correlated with the actual swallowed liquid volume. The ultrasonic probe was combined with a MII catheter to discriminate between antegrade and retrograde bolus transit. Increases of SLVs during liquid GER episodes could be utilized to evaluate GER volume in the vicinity of the ultrasonic probe.