Computer aided positioning of manometric probe in the upper digestive tract.

A method not needing fluoroscopic control for positioning a manometric probe in the gastroduodenal tract is described. It is based on hydrostatic pressure variations occurring at each recording port of a multichannel perfused probe after changes in patient's position. The data are fed into a computer and the schematic representation of the probe showing its position and direction appear on the CRT screen. The results were visually and mathematically compared with those obtained with fluoroscopy and showed good correspondence between the two techniques in identification of the position of the probe.