Minimally-invasive measurement of esophageal inflammation
The methods and apparatus of the present invention allow the evaluation of inflammation of the esophagus. Measurements may be utilized, for example, to diagnose a disease of the esophagus, to monitor inflammation of the esophagus, or to access the treatment of a disease of the esophagus. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method for measuring esophageal inflammation comprising deploying a device into the esophagus of a subject, removing the device after a predetermined period of time, analyzing the device for a diagnostic indicator of esophageal inflammation and evaluating the diagnostic indicator to diagnose esophageal inflammation.
1. A method for sampling microbiota in a subject comprising:
(a) deploying a device into the subject, the device comprising a capsule located at the distal end of the device having an opening and a drag material embedded in the capsule, and a line embedded in the drag material and running through the opening of the capsule, the line comprising one or more capture agents;
(b) removing the device after a predetermined period of time during which the one or more capture agents was exposed to the microbiota of the subject;
(c) collecting one or more indicators associated with the one or more capture agents; and
(d) evaluating the one or more indicators for one or more conditions in the subject.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, adjusting the line in length to correlate with microbiota location in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) of the subject to be sampled.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbiota sampled in the subject is located in one or more of the stomach, the duodenum and the small intestine.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbiota sampled in the subject is located in the stomach.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbiota sampled in the subject is located in the duodenum.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbiota sampled in the subject is located in the small intestine.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is selected from at least one of a cytokine and a chemokine indicative of a bacterial infection.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more bacteria present in the microbiota of the subject.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the bacteria comprise one or more of Staphylococcus sp, Streptococcus sp, Lactobacillus sp. and Peptostreptococcus sp.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more cells harvested from the microbiota that are associated with a condition in the subject.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more parasite(s) present in the microbiota of the subject.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more pathogen(s) present in the microbiota of the subject.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time comprises between 15 minutes and 12 hours.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, or 24 hours.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more of a nucleic acid, or a peptide associated with a bacterial condition in the subject.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a pH indicator, and wherein pH impacts the microbiota and is indicative of a health condition in the subject.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises at least two indicators associated with a health condition in the subject comprising a cytokine, a chemokine, a cellular infiltrate, a biomolecule, a nucleic acid, a peptide, a bacterial cell, and a combination thereof.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the one or more indicators further comprises quantifying concentration or levels of the one or more indicators.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the line comprises a distal segment comprising a sampling cloth.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the line comprises a proximal segment comprising a string made of an absorbent fiber or textured fiber.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capsule is dissolvable.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the capsule is perforated.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capsule comprises a base and a cap.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capture agent binds an analyte when introduced to the subject and the analyte remains bound to the device for sampling.
25. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a panel of captured indicators indicative of state of the subject's health condition.
26. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the subject for one or more conditions based on the indicators obtained from the microbiota of the subject.
27. A method for sampling microbiota in a subject comprising:
(a) deploying a device into the subject, the device comprising a capsule located at the distal end of the device having an opening and a drag material embedded in the capsule, and a line embedded in the drag material wherein length of the line is adjusted for sampling beyond the esophagus of the subject and running through the opening of the capsule, the line comprising one or more capture agents;
(b) removing the device after a predetermined period of time during which the one or more capture agents was exposed to the microbiota of the subject;
(c) collecting one or more indicators associated with the one or more capture agents; and
(d) evaluating the one or more indicators for one or more conditions in the subject.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the microbiota sampled in the subject is located in one or more of the stomach, the duodenum and the small intestine.
29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the microbiota sampled in the subject is located in the stomach.
30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the microbiota sampled in the subject is located in the duodenum.
31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the microbiota sampled in the subject is located in the small intestine.
32. The method of claim 27 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more bacteria present in the microbiota of the subject.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the bacteria comprise one or more of Staphylococcus sp, Streptococcus sp, Lactobacillus sp. and Peptostreptococcus sp.