Method and device for facilitating double-contrast studies of the upper gastrointestinal tract

A method and device for obtaining the type of gastric mucosal coating of a human being's upper gastrointestinal tract to enable a double-contrast study of said tract to be performed are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing an open-ended feed tube having first and second ends, and having a vent in the feed tube for the introduction of ambient air. The vent comprises venting means which are disposed in a direction towards the second end of the feed tube. The first end of the feed tube is disposed into a supply of contrast medium and the medium is ingested by sucking from the second end of the feed tube while simultaneously ingesting air through the venting means. The venting means define a vent opening which is large enough to permit ingestion of a sufficient amount of air to effect a desired degree of distention of the organs in the tract and small enough to prevent interference with the ingestion of the contrast medium, whereby the gaseous distention enhances the gastric mucosal coating and enables a double-contrast study of the organs to be performed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
To effect a standard gastrointestinal or "GI" study, a person is required 
to ingest a so-called "contrast medium". The contrast medium is opaque to 
X-rays and therefore the radiologist can, when the person stands before a 
fluoroscope, follow the flow of the medium through the digestive system. 
As the medium moves through the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, the 
radiologist can detect ulcers, tumors, or other abnormalities of the 
gastrointestinal tract. It is known that by first effecting a gastric 
mucosal coating with the contrast medium and distending the hollow organs 
of the upper gastrointestinal tract, specifically the esophagus, stomach 
and duodenum, it is possible to obtain double-contrast radiographs which 
permit much greater accuracy in the discovery of gastrointestinal problems 
than is possible in the standard or single-contrast "GI" study. Until now, 
the techniques for achieving gaseous distention of the organs, which is 
essential is obtaining clear, unobscured double-contrast views thereof, 
have involved the use of nasogastric intubation and ingestion of hypotonic 
drugs. It has also been reported that gaseous distention of the organs can 
be effected by the ingestion of effervescent granules which will release 
carbon dioxide within the person's gastrointestinal track such that 
distention of the organs will result. These effervescent granules, can be 
used in connection with hypotonic drugs as well. 
Each of the methods for gaseous distention of the organs noted above are 
problematic in that a certain degree of discomfort to the patient is 
involved. In the case of nasogastric intubation, the discomfort 
experienced is quite apparent. Further, where hypotonic agents are used 
there is always uncertainty as to a person's reaction to such drugs. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device for 
obtaining a gastric mucosal coating of the upper gastrointestinal tract 
with a contrast medium and gaseously distending the organs to enhance the 
coating and enable a double-contrast study to be performed, which is not 
accompanied by the drawbacks presently associated with the known methods 
described above. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method and device for preparing a 
person's gastrointestinal track so that a double-contrast study thereof 
can be effected. To this end, the present invention specifically relates 
to a method for obtaining a gastric mucosal coating of the esophagus, 
stomach and duodenum with a contrast medium and gaseously distending these 
organs to thereby enhance the coating and enable double-contrast 
radiographs to be obtained. 
More specifically, the method of the present invention comprises providing 
an open-ended feed tube having first and second ends and providing a vent 
in the feed tube which is comprised of venting means being disposed in a 
direction toward the second end of the feed tube. The first end of the 
feed tube is placed in a supply of the contrast medium which is to be 
ingested and the medium is then sucked through the tube from the second 
end thereof. The construction of the feed tube and venting means is such 
that a mixture of air and the medium are simultaneously ingested. To this 
end, the venting means define a vent opening which is large enough to 
permit ingestion of sufficient air to effect distention of the organs but 
small enough to prevent interference with ingestion of the contrast medium 
through the feed tube. 
The venting means through which air is introduced can be provided in the 
feed tube in a number of ways. Specifically, it can be provided by 
inserting a hypodermic needle into the feed tube or by inserting a 
separate tube therein. Alternatively, the venting means can be 
manufactured as an integral part of the feed tube itself. It may be 
desired, in certain instances, to utilize the device of the present 
invention for conducting standard single-contrast studies of the 
gastrointestinal tract. When such is the case, the venting means can be 
provided with means for closing the vent opening so that no air will be 
ingested along with the contrast medium. 
The novel method and device of the present invention enables gaseous 
distention of the hollow organs in the upper gastrointestinal tract to be 
effected in a manner which avoids the discomfort and other drawbacks 
associated with the prior art methods. Further, the method disclosed is 
usable in conjunction with various known techniques for obtaining optimal 
mucosal coating for purposes of conducting double-contrast studies which 
techniques may involved certain physical maneuvering of the patient upon 
whom the study is being conducted, such as, for example, that disclosed in 
Vol. 117 of "Diagnostic Radiology", December 1975, in an article entitled 
"A Simple Method For Routine Double-Contrast Study Of The Upper 
Gastrointestinal Tract" by Dr. Igor Laufer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings, 10 represents generally the novel device in 
accordance with the present invention. The device 10 includes container 12 
which holds a supply of contrast medium 14 which is to be ingested into 
the gastrointestinal tract of a human being. 
Container 12 is provided with cover member 16 having hole 28 therein. The 
feed tube 18 which has first and second ends 22 and 20, respectively, is 
of substantially the same configuration as the hole 28 so that the first 
end 22 of the feed tube 18 can be inserted through the hole 28 and 
disposed into the supply of contrast medium 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The 
contrast medium 14 is preferably barium sulfate. Typically, the barium 
sulfate will be supplied in powdered form and must be mixed with a 
quantity of water prior to ingestion. 
Feed tube 18 is provided with venting means 24 which is disposed in a 
direction toward the second end 20 of the feed tube 18. It has been found 
that the venting means must be disposed in such a direction to enable air 
to be ingested when the contrast medium 14 is ingested by sucking on the 
second end 20 of the feed tube 18 while the first end 22 is disposed in 
the contrast medium 14. 
By reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it can be seen that the venting means 24 
can be of three general types, i.e., the venting means can be provided by 
inserting a hypodermic needle 24a into the wall of feed tube 18 as shown 
in FIG. 1, or can be provided in the manner as shown in either FIGS. 2 or 
3. In FIG. 2, the venting means 24b is formed integrally with the feed 
tube 18 during the manufacture thereof. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, 
the venting means can comprise a separate tube 24c which is inserted into 
a hole 30 which has been formed in the side of feed tube 18. 
Regardless of which embodiment of the venting means is utilized, it has 
been found that the vent opening which is defined by the venting means 
must be large enough to permit ingestion of a sufficient amount of air to 
effect a desired degree of distention of the organs and small enough to 
prevent intereference with ingestion of the contrast medium. Specifically, 
it has been found that the vent opening must have an inner diameter of at 
least 0.020 inches but no greater than 0.050 inches. More specifically, 
the use of an 18 gauge hypodermic needle which has an inner diameter of 
0.033 inches as the venting means has been found to result in sufficient 
gaseous distention of the organs to obtain good gastric mucosal coating 
for purposes of conducting the study. 
The device of the present invention may also be used to conduct standard 
single-contrast studies of a person's gastrointestinal tract. To this end, 
means 32 which are operable to close the vent opening can be provided. 
Such means can comprise plug means 32a, as shown in FIG. 2, or cap means 
32b, as shown in FIG. 3. As can readily be appreciated, by closing the 
vent opening, only the contrast medium will be ingested upon sucking the 
medium through the feed tube 18. 
When it is desired to prepare a person's gastrointestinal tract for 
purposes of conducting a double-contrast study thereof, in accordance with 
the present invention, the first end 22 of the feed tube 18 is inserted 
through the hole 28 in the cover member 16 of the container 12 and thus 
disposed in the supply of contrast medium 14 contained therein. With the 
vent 24 provided in the feed tube 18 as described hereinabove, the sucking 
of the medium through the feed tube from the second end 20 thereof results 
in a simultaneous ingestion of the fluid medium as well as air which 
enters through the venting means 24. As noted above, so long as the vent 
opening has been chosen within limits that are dictated by the desired 
degree of distention of the organs on the one hand and the avoidance of 
interference with ingestion of the contrast medium on the other hand, 
sufficient air will be ingested along with the contrast medium so that 
gaseous distention and coating of the desired degree will be accomplished. 
As noted above, the device of the present invention can be used to effect 
the type of enhanced gastric mucosal coating which facilitates 
double-contrast studies of the upper gastrointestinal tract and, if 
desired, can be used in conjunction with physical maneuvering techniques 
as designed to optimize the mucosal coating such as described by Dr. 
Laufer in his article referred to above. Whether the device and method of 
the present invention are used alone or in conjunction with these other 
techniques, it is apparent that a relatively simple and efficient method 
for obtaining a good mucosal coating in conjunction with gaseous 
distention of the organs is involved which does not have associated 
therewith any of the physical discomfort that is characteristic of the 
prior art methods. 
While the above invention has been described with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is made 
by way of example only and that numerous variations as may become apparent 
to those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.