DL: "Listening to the patients" - Analysis of body sounds for diagnostics and monitoring

In short our project "Listening to the patients" aim to use advanced analyses of body sounds for screening, diagnosis and follow up of patients, and in particular patients with diabetes. All groups working with an artificial pancreas (AP) struggle with early meal detection. So far all commercially available APs are hybrid solutions, i.e. systems with meal assist, implying that the patients must inform the system about the amount of carbohydrates ingested. Then the system decides on the amount of insulin to be given with that meal. We will investigate the possibility of early meal detection by analyses of gastrointestinal sounds. We will also investigate if sound could hold information on multiple body functions. Thereby we will improve the present surveillance spectrum in patients allowing for earlier detection of possible life-threatening conditions. If our project is successful the understanding of human physiology and pathophysiology may increase in parallel with the possibility to monitor different states of the human body.

All groups working with an artificial pancreas (AP) struggle with early meal detection. So far, almost exclusively, hybrid solutions are investigated, i.e. systems with meal assist, implying that the patients decide on meal bolus of insulin or inform the system of the amount of carbohydrates ingested. We propose robust early meal detection based on combined monitoring of gastrointestinal (GI) sound, subcutaneous continuous glucose measurements (CGM), electrocardiogram (ECG) and body motion. Our preliminary data (submitted) support this view. This combined method for early meal detection is virgin ground. We anticipate that advanced analyses of GI sound can be used for screening, diagnosing and monitoring of a range of GI diseases and states. We foresee that combined with CGM and other sensing modalities, GI sound can be used for screening and diagnosis of autonomic neuropathy, and gastroparesis in particular, in patients with diabetes. If our project is successful, a development comparable to the development of ultrasound investigation technology during the last decades, is foreseen. The understanding of human physiology and pathophysiology will increase in parallel with the possibility to monitor different states of the human body. There is substantial potential for easy and cheap screening, diagnosing and monitoring of physiological and pathological processes in the human body - and in veterinary medicine. The potential for innovation and commercialization seems unlimited.