Device and method for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal allergy
View Patent ↗A method and device for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal allergy. The method and the device expose a surface to at least one antigen at a fixed depth. The device includes an application point each having an antigen allowing for the application of the antigen to the surface at a fixed depth. The device may include multiple applications points each with an antigen for simultaneously applying the antigens to the surface.
1. A method to diagnose a gastrointestinal allergy comprising the steps of:
providing a device including a plurality of application points each containing an antigen;
introducing the device into a colon;
exposing a surface of the colon to the antigens at a fixed depth by establishing contact between the surface and the plurality of application points; and,
observing a reaction of the surface to the antigens,
wherein a plurality of different antigens are exposed to the surface at a fixed depth simultaneously and, wherein the surface that is being observed is within the colon when the observing step is being performed.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a patch.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a capsule.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing the device from the colon.
5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of opening the capsule.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of exposing a surface to the antigen includes the step of scratching the surface.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of exposing a surface to the antigen includes the step of penetrating the surface.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of taking visual readings of the colon exposed to the antigens periodically up to a total period of 1.5 hours.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the visual readings of the colon exposed to the antigens are taken every minute for a total period of 20 to 30 minutes.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is introduced to the colon in a cecal portion of the colon.