The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 05, 1988
Filed:
Sep. 05, 1986
Irwin R Berman, Brunswick, GA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A gastrointestinal diagnostic capsule that includes an encapsulated expandable foam material introduced through the oral cavity and through the esophagus into the stomach with the capsule being dissolved by the temperature and moisture conditions encountered so that the foam block or cube can expand in the stomach and be withdrawn through the gastroesophageal junction and up through the entire esophagus to obtain specimen material for diagnostic procedures for early detection of gastroesophageal cancer. The capsule and encapsulated expandable body or block of foam material which has been reduced in volume before encapsulation includes a flexible cord connected thereto and is preferably introduced on the end of a nasogastric tube, endoscope or stylus device to enable accurate positioning of the capsule after which the introducer or nasogastric tube may be withdrawn so that when the abrasive foam body or block has expanded in the stomach, it may be withdrawn through the gastroesophageal junction and up through the entire esophagus with the abrasive foam blocking obtaining cellular specimens for subsequent processing and cytology to enable ready detection of gastroesophageal cancer. Similar insertion and withdrawal techniques with the diagnostic capsule introduced through the anus by using a colonoscope allows early detection by cytology of colon cancer in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis.