RuiSiTek Launches 'Sensation-Free Monitoring' Series, Pioneering Domestic Production to Enable Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

As living standards rise and lifestyles and dietary patterns change among the Chinese population, the incidence of reflux diseases continues to climb, becoming a silent threat to national health.

According to relevant statistical data, reflux disease has become the second most prevalent condition in China, surpassed only by diabetes, with the number of patients suffering from laryngopharyngeal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease reaching as high as 165 million. More alarmingly, reflux disease is characterized by significant harm, strong concealment, and diverse symptoms. Risk factors include excessive obesity, improper diet, irregular lifestyle, increased psychological stress, long-term alcohol consumption, Helicobacter pylori infection, and incomplete development of the cardiac sphincter in children. Furthermore, certain reflux disorders are highly likely to induce tumors in affected areas, serving as one of the risk factors for precancerous lesions.

Early, precise, and effective detection of reflux diseases is particularly critical. For this reason, an increasing number of hospitals have established specialized clinics for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in recent years. Consequently, there has been a growing demand across relevant departments for the use of reflux monitoring systems to identify underlying causes. This demand is especially pronounced for monitoring gastroesophageal airway reflux, particularly laryngopharyngeal reflux, and spans multiple disciplines including pulmonology, gastroenterology, emergency medicine, thoracic surgery, cardiology, and even traditional Chinese medicine.

Currently, the “Dx-pH Intelligent Reflux Monitoring System” for diagnosing reflux diseases has been widely adopted by numerous large hospitals both in China and abroad. Restec (Langfang Airport Free Trade Zone) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Restec”) has overcome the critical bottleneck in new medical-grade sensor materials, significantly reducing the product’s cost. Coupled with growing public awareness of these conditions, it is anticipated that many secondary Class A hospitals, primary healthcare institutions, and even health checkup centers will actively adopt the “Dx-pH Reflux Monitoring System” in the future.

According to the authoritative statements in the 2019 “Chinese Multidisciplinary Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease,” reflux pH monitoring is widely used to assess esophageal acid exposure and to clarify the intrinsic association between reflux events and symptom events, thereby establishing its core role in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease and earning it the designation as the “gold standard.”

Furthermore, the 2022 “Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease” further emphasizes the importance of using Dx-pH monitoring to directly assess pH changes in the airway (oropharynx). This monitoring method not only enables simultaneous detection of both gaseous and liquid reflux but also offers numerous advantages, including ease of operation, precise probe positioning, high monitoring accuracy, good patient tolerance, and broad applicability across diverse patient populations.

Specifically, the Dx-pH reflux monitoring system comprises four components: a pH electrode, a transmitter, a data analysis box, and data analysis software. As a novel pH monitoring device, it precisely detects trace amounts of acidic or alkaline gases in the pharyngeal region while simultaneously monitoring gaseous and liquid reflux in both the airway and esophagus. Offering comfort, reliability, and high accuracy, the system provides a robust basis for physicians to make rapid, reliable diagnoses and formulate targeted treatment plans.

For a long time, the application of Dx-pH reflux monitoring systems in China has largely relied on imports, which come with significantly higher price tags. Today, Restech has partnered with Respiratory Tech, a renowned U.S. company in the global reflux field, to develop and upgrade Dx-pH monitoring systems tailored for the Chinese market, featuring optimized sensing technology. Meanwhile, process iterations have been implemented in areas such as pH electrodes and data analysis, further enhancing product accuracy and patient comfort.

The ability to monitor trace-level aerosolized samples is the most prominent manifestation of the advanced nature of the Dx-pH reflux monitoring system; furthermore, it possesses several other features not found in similar competing products.

First, it offers excellent comfort. With a catheter diameter of only 1.5 mm, the smallest in its class, and electrode tolerance technology that renders the electrode catheter thin, soft, and comfortable, patient comfort and tolerance are further enhanced;

Secondly, it offers high sensitivity. Leveraging photon detection technology and the E-shaped probe design (which maximizes contact with gaseous refluxates), it can directly detect trace amounts of acidic substances in the pharynx at the parts per million (ppm) level;

Third, anti-drying and anti-contamination technologies ensure the formation of a humidified film on the probe surface while preventing contaminant fluids from adhering to it, thereby further guaranteeing the accuracy of the system during micro-level pH monitoring;

Furthermore, this product enables 24-hour monitoring of airway or esophageal pH levels and performs exponential analysis on the raw pH monitoring data. Notably, its signal transmission frequency captures two data points per second. This high-frequency data acquisition ensures comprehensive data collection and effective analysis during prolonged monitoring periods (24–72 hours), thereby providing critical support for data accuracy and integrity.

Finally, this product is designed not only for adult users but also for infants and toddlers aged six months and older. The pediatric probe extension cable is as soft as hair, and the device employs wireless signal transmission, ensuring portability without interfering with children’s eating, sleeping, or play activities. It effectively fills a market gap where most existing devices primarily cater to adult needs while neglecting pediatric requirements, thereby offering broad applicability. Leveraging its wide-ranging suitability, the product demonstrates significant competitive advantages and potential in the marketplace.

It is reported that ResTech’s domestically produced Dx-pH reflux monitoring system has been sold to more than 50 countries worldwide.

Moving forward, Restech will continue to expand its portfolio of “unobtrusive monitoring” products, extending into reflux monitoring and therapeutic devices as well as an AI large-model service platform for laryngopharyngeal reflux. This strategy aims to establish a complete closed-loop system spanning diagnosis, treatment, and services, ensuring that its products and services form a self-contained ecosystem. While focusing on its core competencies, Restech will also collaborate with other enterprises across the industry chain, providing partners with essential diagnostic support to jointly deliver more comprehensive solutions for patients.

Reference Article:

1. "Improving and Preventing Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Starting with Lifestyle Adjustments"