INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING SIGNALS AND IMAGES RELATING TO THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for improving detection by equipment used to detect magnetic susceptibility. The advantages provided are related to different factors, such as reduced instrumentation cost, performance in terms of stability and sensitivity, etc. The devices may be used, for example, to detect magnetic tracers and markers in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans. They can be used in research and/or for diagnostic purposes using information related to a variety of parameters of the gastrointestinal tract, such as, pharyngeal and oesophageal transit time, gastric emptying and motility, colonic motility, inter alia.