Patent ID: 9421185
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: A61B,A61K,G01N,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of treating a subject suffering from abnormal entry of gastrointestinal contents into the respiratory tract, comprising: (a) orally administering to a the subject a diagnostic dose of a formulation comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise a biocompatible material that is not destroyed in the gastrointestinal or respiratory tracts and a detectable label, and wherein the particles are not destroyed in the gastrointestinal or respiratory tracts; (b) allowing the formulation to remain in the subject over a period of time during which the subject would be expected to aspirate the formulation from the gastrointestinal tract into the respiratory tract; (c) obtaining a sample of respiratory fluid from the subject; (d) analyzing the respiratory fluid to determine the concentration of the detectable label in the respiratory fluid; (e) identifying a concentration of the detectable label in the respiratory fluid that is indicative of an aspiration of gastrointestinal contents into the respiratory tract, wherein this aspiration indicates that the subject requires medical treatment; and (f) providing a pharmaceutical composition or surgical treatment to reduce such aspirations in the subject.