ABSTRACT
A new method for the measurement of small intestinal transit time is described. An externally applied magnetic transducer senses the presence of an ingested ferromagnetic material--50 gm. of magnesium ferrite dispersed in a test meal--upon its arrival at the cecal area. The mouth-to-cecum transit time is thus determined. The method is noninvasive and is not associated with any radiation. The method was compared to the commonly used x-ray method and good correlation was found in 24 of 28 studies. The mean transit time in a group of 20 normal subjects was 157.5 +/- 63.9 min.
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Motility , Intestine, Small/physiology , Magnetics , Adult , Aged , Cecum/diagnostic imaging , Cecum/metabolism , Humans , Methods , Middle Aged , Radiography , Time Factors , TransducersABSTRACT
A new ferromagnetic method for the measurement of gastric emptying is described. An inert tracer, magnesium ferrite, is added to a test meal. Its amount in the stomach is then measured at regular intervals by an external transducer using its ferromagnetic properties. The method is noninvasive and devoid of radiation exposure. The magnetic fields used are harmless. The feasibility, reliability, and reproducibility of the method are described. Gastric emptying was studied in 61 subjects. The shape of the gastric emptying curve conformed best to an exponential function. The mean half-time of gastric emptying was 49 +/- 17.4 min. In this limited series age and sex did not affect gastric emptying.
Subject(s)
Gastric Emptying , Iron , Magnetics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Clinical Trials as Topic , Female , Food , Humans , Magnesium , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography , Stomach/diagnostic imaging , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A new apexcardiographic recording system has been developed which is free of certain technical limitations. This noncontact magnetic transducer was tested alternately with a commonly used pneumatic piezoelectric transducer in a comparative study on ten normal subjects. The magnetic registration offered a more accurate timing and configuration of the ACG. Signal distortion, such as peaked waves and an early fall of the systolic wave, was eliminated. The magnetic transducer was capable of recording directional apex point tracings, as well as pulsations of a larger apical area. The new system proved to possess definite advantages and eliminated some of the inconveniences inherent in the pneumatically coupled system.