A radio-controlled, wireless, video capsule that is about half the size of a grape has taken its first journey through the human gastrointestinal tract. Swallowing a tiny video camera is nothing new, video-equipped capsules that are swallowed and then passed through the body via the normal movement of the gut have been around for the last ten years or so. However, the problem with these capsules was that they were wholly reliant on the movement of the gut to propel the capsule on its journey. Thus, sometimes the capsule would stay in a place of little interest for hours, and when then quickly travel through parts of the gut doctors were interested in. The new video capsule gets round this problem as it is radio-controlled. This allows doctors to drive it through the intestine, stay put in areas of interest, and reverse backwards to have another look at an interesting area if necessary. The capsule is currently undergoing further trials and is expected to be submitted for approval by the US FDA within the next two to three years. The researchers hope that future versions of the device might be able to travel through the gut and snatching tissue samples for biopsy.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 20th May 2003
