Camera pill helps detect diseases without invasive probes nov11th UK

Antaletriangle · 11-11-2008, 10:33 PM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/34...ve-probes.html

A camera-in-a-pill that could aid early detection of a range of illnesses is being tested on patients in Britain.

By Matthew Moore
Last Updated: 11:53AM GMT 11 Nov 2008

Patients swallow the device, which is about the size of a large vitamin pill, instead of undergoing invasive diagnostic probes.

The digital camera takes high-definition photos inside the patient's digestive system and sends them by radio signal to a receiver worn around their waist.

It can take around 55,000 images in its journey through the human gut, helping doctors detect conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal tumours, anaemia and unexplained bleeding.

Previously doctors had to rely on elongated flexible tubes called endoscopes to explore the intestines, and even these could not reach some portions of the small intestine which had to be scanned by X-rays.

The camera, which is wrapped in plastic, is flushed out of the body at the end of its journey, but its images can be downloaded onto a computer and retained.

Doctors in the US have used the technique for several years, but it is now being tested for the first time in Britain, at the South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust.

Carolyn Davison of the trust told The Sun: "Capsule Endoscopy has transformed exploration of an area which is very hard to examine thoroughly."

Her colleague Dr Simon Panter added: "This technology could reduce the need for uncomfortable probing."

11-11-2008, 10:33 PM	#1
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Camera pill helps detect diseases without invasive probes nov11th UK http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/34...ve-probes.html A camera-in-a-pill that could aid early detection of a range of illnesses is being tested on patients in Britain. By Matthew Moore Last Updated: 11:53AM GMT 11 Nov 2008 Patients swallow the device, which is about the size of a large vitamin pill, instead of undergoing invasive diagnostic probes. The digital camera takes high-definition photos inside the patient's digestive system and sends them by radio signal to a receiver worn around their waist. It can take around 55,000 images in its journey through the human gut, helping doctors detect conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal tumours, anaemia and unexplained bleeding. Previously doctors had to rely on elongated flexible tubes called endoscopes to explore the intestines, and even these could not reach some portions of the small intestine which had to be scanned by X-rays. The camera, which is wrapped in plastic, is flushed out of the body at the end of its journey, but its images can be downloaded onto a computer and retained. Doctors in the US have used the technique for several years, but it is now being tested for the first time in Britain, at the South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust. Carolyn Davison of the trust told The Sun: "Capsule Endoscopy has transformed exploration of an area which is very hard to examine thoroughly." Her colleague Dr Simon Panter added: "This technology could reduce the need for uncomfortable probing."