A novel magnetic method for examination of bowel motility.

In contrast to the well-developed methods for morphological diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract, there is no comparatively satisfying technique for functional disorders. One important example is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder that affects a high percentage of all individuals. It can only be diagnosed by excluding organic diseases and by considering symptom criteria.

A novel method for real-time magnetic marker monitoring in the gastrointestinal tract.

In internal medicine, a simple method for the functional examination of the gastrointestinal tract without the risk of radiation exposure is required. We describe a novel principle based on the monitoring of magnetic markers which meets these demands. Our method employs a special permanent magnet which is repeatedly aligned by a vertically oriented pulsed magnetic field.