Biomagnetic Characterization of Gastric Dysrhythmias III

Studies have demonstrated that the magnetogastrogram (MGG) records the same gastric slow wave activity that detect with serosal and mucosal electrodes. The upgraded magnetometer will improve the spatial resolution resulting in increased sensitivity for detecting and characterizing both abnormal frequency dynamics and abnormal spatiotemporal patterns. The spatiotemporal data collected with multichannel Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) biomagnetometer has allowed , for the first time, to characterize propagation of the gastric slow wave noninvasively. In addition to frequency dynamic changes, which are the only reliable parameters from cutaneous electrogastrogram (EGG), and which still do not necessarily correlate well with disease, the MGG reflects normal and abnormal gastric slow wave activity. Furthermore, for the first time, investigators have demonstrated that propagation characteristics determined magnetically distinguish normal subjects from patients with gastroparesis. Also for the first time, investigators have been able to detect the gradient in gastric propagation velocity noninvasively in animal subjects. However, investigators still have unresolved questions about how MGG propagation rhythm and pattern disturbances may specify functional disorders.