Pilot Validation of a New Wireless Patch System as an Ambulatory, Noninvasive Tool That Measures Gut Myoelectrical Signals: Physiologic and Disease Correlations

Background and Aims: Limited means exist to assess gastrointestinal activity in a noninvasive, objective way that is highly predictive of underlying motility disorders. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of recording myoelectric gastrointestinal activity by cutaneous patches and to correlate myoelectric signals with gastrointestinal function in various clinical settings. Methods: A novel wireless patch system (WPS) (G-Tech Medical) that acquires gastrointestinal myoelectrical signals was placed on the patients’ anterior abdomens. Data were transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device with a user interface and forwarded to a cloud server where processing algorithms identified episodes of motor activity, quantified their parameters, and nominally assigned them to specific gastrointestinal organs based on their frequencies. Results: The inherent reproducibility of the WPS measurement technique itself and from the underlying gut activity, coupled with source validation and sensitivity to changes in gut activity in several physiologic and pathologic states, demonstrates its feasibility, safety, and performance in clinical settings. Conclusions: The novel WPS technology, measuring myoelectric intestinal activity noninvasively and continuously over multiple days, is feasible in a wide range of clinical settings, highlighting its promise in the diagnosis and management of motility disorders. Further research is required for more extensive validation and to determine how best to employ this information to optimize patient care.