Determining gastrointestinal location by means of electrical control activity frequencies detected with an intraluminal probe

An enteral feeding tube with electrodes and a signal conditioner were designed to monitor intraluminally the electrical control activity (ECA) of the stomach and small bowel. The devices were evaluated in a clinical study using six normal subjects. The objects were to determine the system´s ability to detect the ECA from the smooth muscle tissue of the adjacent gastrointestinal organ and to determine if one could discriminate between the stomach and small bowel by means of the signal received. The electrical signals from the electrodes were analyzed for frequency content using a fast Fourier transform. The results of the analysis are presented in detail