FOR RESEARCHERS

A direct instrument for human gastric physiology.

Most accessible signals in gastric physiology are indirect — serum gastrin and pepsinogen ratios are mucosal surrogates, and intubation perturbs what it measures. The Heidelberg pH Capsule System gives you the dependent variable itself: luminal pH over time, in a conscious, ambulatory subject, with a standardized challenge you can repeat within and between subjects.

Measured the same way, every time.
Sample tracing
7 5 3 1 pH BASELINE CHALLENGE REACIDIFICATION
Bicarbonate challenge~45–90 min
METHODOLOGY

A protocol you can pre-register.

Two-point calibration at pH 1.0 and 7.0 anchors every measurement. The bicarbonate challenge is standardized in volume and concentration; reacidification time and time-to-onset are operationally defined and extracted directly from the tracing.

Because the perturbation and the readout are explicit, the protocol travels between sites and supports within-subject crossover designs.
Operational endpoints
7 1 pH NaHCO3 BASELINE TIME-TO-ONSET REACIDIFICATION TIME
Standardized bicarbonate challengeRead from the tracing
Research application cards — icon treatment
Research Applications

What you can quantify.

Secretory Response & Capacity

Acute response and capacity.

Sequential bicarbonate challenges quantify both the acute secretory response and the stomach's capacity to restore its acidity, with reacidification kinetics as a continuous outcome.

Gastric Residence & Emptying

Dosage-form behavior in vivo.

Used to estimate gastric residence time as a function of food composition and to map pH events to the migrating motor complex without altering motility.

Mojaverian et al., Gastroenterology 1985.
Antacid Neutralization

Quantify the in vivo effect.

Real time measurement of the neutralizing effect of antacids in the stomach.

Ekenved & Walan, Scand J Gastroenterol 1975.
Fed Versus Fasted pH

Characterize the environment.

Direct comparison of the gastric pH environment in fed and fasted states for formulation and absorption work.

Crossover Physiology

Within-subject designs.

A repeatable perturbation and an explicit readout support within-subject crossover studies of gastric acid dynamics.

Recent Investigator Studies

Current use.

Investigator-initiated trials have used the system to study the influence of bitter compounds on gastric pH and satiety signaling.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02372188.
HOW IT WORKS

One capsule, one hour, a quantitative tracing.

01
CALIBRATE

Two-point calibration at pH 1.0 and pH 7.0 against reference buffers.

02
ADMINISTER

The subject swallows the tethered capsule. Record fasting baseline pH, then deliver sequential sodium bicarbonate challenges.

03
MEASURE

Time the return to baseline acidity after each challenge. Reacidification interval, pattern, and how strongly the stomach restores its acidity, read directly from the tracing..

ENGAGEMENT
How research groups work with us.

Equipment provision, protocol and calibration support, and methodological consultation for grant-funded and investigator-initiated studies.

EQUIPMENT PROVISION

System provided for the study duration, with calibration standards and capsules.

PROTOCOL SUPPORT

Help defining the challenge protocol and outcome measures for your design.

MULTI-SUBJECT CAPABLE

Reusable Medallion M1 reader; single-use capsules support sequential subjects across a study day.

METHODOLOGICAL CONSULTATION

Input on reproducibility, calibration, and tracing interpretation.

Get in touch

Discuss a study.

Tell us your aim and design. Our scientific liaison will follow up.

Or email us directly at info@heidelbergmed.com

Indicated for use by qualified healthcare professionals. CAUTION: Federal Law (USA) restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician.