Analysis of Duodenal Contractility in the Unanesthetized Dog

The temporal relationship of circular muscle contractions at eight positions spaced at 2.5 cm intervals along the duodenum was determined after administration of test meals and drugs in dogs chronically implanted with strain-gage force transducers. An automatic data analysis system was developed to 1) recognize contractions, 2) measure contractile amplitudes and intercontractile intervals, 3) perform statistical calculations, and 4) present results in various different formats.