The Dx-pH Measurement System™ for Sleep Reflux

June 27th, 2006 Medgadget Editors GI, Medicine

Here’s an interesting device from a San Diego, California startup Respiratory Technology Co. Touted as a new way to monitor for acid reflux in the airway during sleep, the device is wireless and somewhat minimally invasive (1.5mm diameter monitoring catheter). The system was just presented at the Association of Polysomnographic Technologists meeting (part of the SLEEP 2006 Associated Professional Sleep Societies).
Company about its device :

The Dx-pH Measurement System™ is a revolutionary system which measures pH in the airway or esophagus comfortably, without the use of current invasive pH catheters.
This system incorporates a proprietary miniaturized sensor that monitors pH in real time. Restech intends for the product to be used as a tool to assess aerosolized acid in the esophagus or pharynx. This new technology helps doctors target the connection between gastroesophageal reflux and asthma, along with many other airway diseases.
GER is caused by acidic stomach contents backing up, or refluxing, from the stomach into the esophagus. Sometimes this acidic reflux material passes through the upper esophagus into the pharynx, where it can cause direct damage or be inhaled into the lungs.
Today nearly 60% of the 18 million Americans treated for Asthma experience GER symptoms. The Dx-pH Probe™ is the first pH probe able to accurately detect acidic events in the esophagus or pharynx.
The Dx-pH Measurement System contains the first minimally invasive probe that monitors acid in the pharynx or esophagus, in real time. The Dx-pH Probe transmits the pH data wirelessly to the Dx-Recorder™ while also allowing the patient to add relevant information and symptoms by the push of a button.
Upon completion of a pH study, the SD memory card is inserted into a PC card reader to be viewed, analyzed and printed by the physician with Restech’s Dx-pH DataView™ software program.