Conventional measurements of gastric emptying (1) employ radioactive tracers, (2) require preparation of the liquid and solid phases of the meal immediately before the test, and (3) require a gamma scintillation camera to record the passage of the labeled meal from the stomach. We have developed a breath test kit containing a meal suitable for measurement of gastric emptying in a physician's office. The 340-calorie meal contains 90 g solid phase and 90 g liquid phase, either of which may be labeled with a proprietary 13C tracer. The meal is palatable, as well as stable for at least a week at room temperature and for several months when frozen. Conduct of the measurement requires only that the subject consume the meal and collect five breath samples. Preliminary validation against radioactive measurements indicates excellent correlation and suggests the test can be carried out within 120 minutes. Phase I of this SBIR proposes individual validations against solid and liquid radioactive measures in 10 normal subjects and 30 patients with gastric dumping or paresis. In Phase II, multicenter clinical trials will be carried out to provide the basis for a 51OK submission to the Food and Drug Administration.

Proposed Commercial Applications

Development of this noninvasive and nonradioactive 13C test meal will enable a physician to measure gastric emptying without special equipment in an outpatient setting.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I (R43)
Project #
1R43DK052723-01
Application #
2018225
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG3-SSS-6 (18))
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M
Project Start
1997-09-15
Project End
1999-03-14
Budget Start
1997-09-15
Budget End
1999-03-14
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Meretek Diagnostics, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37211
Huffman, Todd A; Mothe-Satney, Isabelle; Lawrence Jr, John C (2002) Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of lipin mediated by the mammalian target of rapamycin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:1047-52