By Janelle Mallett, Body1 Staff 05/31/00
Soon doctors will be able to explore areas of the human body that they
previously found difficult to examine.
Given Imaging Ltd. of Yoqneam
Israel has developed a camera the size of a pill to take color pictures
as it passes through remote areas of the digestive system.
Doctors will scan the recorded images to check for post-surgical bleeding and signs of
cancer.
The new wireless technology will help doctors diagnose colorectal
cancers, the third most common cancers in both men and women. The
American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 130,000 cases of colorectal
cancers will be detected this year.
Ten human volunteers have already tested the device. Given
Imaging Ltd. will submit its FDA application later in the year so the
advanced technology can reach more people.
The Given Diagnostic Imaging System is a 0.4 x 1.2 inch
torpedo-shaped photographic capsule. This gastrointestinal imager
records as much as five hours of video as peristalsis propels it through
the body.
The camera can generate pictures of the small
bowel, which doctors cannot yet reach with endoscopy.
The procedure causes patients no pain, and body excretes the
capsule within 24 hours.
The new camera painlessly transmits images to a receiver on a belt
worn by the patient, while traditional endoscopy requires internal wires and
cables that cause pain. Using the disposable and sterile
capsule can furthermore reduce risk of infection during an examination.
For patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, the small bowel is particularly difficult to
reach with endoscopic techniques.
The ingestible camera's images can help doctors look for
abnormalities in blood vessels and in the mucous lining and to spot
tumors. Still, the device has its own limitations: unlike endoscopic techniques, the capsule cannot collect biopsies or remove polyps.
Reference:
2000 Medical Data International, Inc.
