# Novel Electrical Impedance Methodology to Understand Functional Dysphagia

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $490,855

## Abstract

Title: Novel Electrical Impedance Methodology to Understand “Functional Dysphagia”
ABSTRACT
Motor activity associated with peristalsis is responsible for the orderly propulsion of swallowed contents in the
aboral direction throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. For the bolus to move efficiently through the tubular
structure of GI tract, it requires contraction of the segment of the GI tube behind the bolus (ascending contraction)
and relaxation in front of the bolus (descending relaxation), which in essence are the two essential elements of
a peristaltic reflex (law of intestine). Contraction in the GI tract can be recorded relatively easily using intraluminal
pressure or high resolution manometry (HRM). On the other hand, even in year 2015 it is not clear how to record
the relaxation limb of the peristaltic reflex during routine clinical esophageal manometry. Normal esophageal
dimensions during peristaltic transport are not known. Multiple intraluminal impedance (MII) technique; has been
in use for almost 25 years to monitor movements of liquid and air, in both oral and aboral direction in the
esophagus. Recent studies from our laboratory show that MII can measure luminal cross section area (CSA) or
esophageal distension during peristaltic transport accurately. We propose that esophageal distension is a
surrogate marker of descending relaxation of peristalsis and distension can be measured accurately by MII
technique.
 There are 5 major goals of the proposed research. First; to record dynamic changes in the luminal CSA
of the esophagus during peristalsis from MII measurements: the method will then be incorporated into a software
program that will allow measurement of high resolution distension and high resolution contraction as part of
peristalsis using a novel algorithm. We foresee that such a program would become the standard or routine for
clinical esophageal motility testing. Second; we propose to test the hypothesis that similar to contraction, the
inhibition phase of peristaltic reflex also travels the esophagus in a peristaltic fashion. Third; we will study the
relationship between esophageal distension and contraction amplitude, velocity and other parameters of
esophageal peristalsis. Fourth; most importantly, we will test the hypothesis that the lack of distension/defective
esophageal inhibition is the cause of “functional dysphagia”. Fifth; finally, we will determine the root cause of
poor esophageal distension in patients with functional dysphagia. This proposal is innovative in its application
(recording inhibition during routine clinical studies has never been carried out in routine esophageal motility
studies). We focus on using MII to quantify luminal distension during bolus transport, and the central role that
electrical bio-impedance can play in esophageal motility testing. The proposed project will potentially
revolutionize esophageal motility testing, by adding another powerful tool alongside manometry in diagnosing
motil...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10004028
- **Project number:** 5R01DK109376-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** RAVINDER K. MITTAL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $490,855
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-15 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10004028

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10004028, Novel Electrical Impedance Methodology to Understand Functional Dysphagia (5R01DK109376-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10004028. Licensed CC0.

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