Calay News
New York University is developing a new technology that could revolutionize treatments for gastrointestinal disorders. It is a smart pill, which, thanks to its small size, could replace more invasive tests such as endoscopy or gastroscopy. The pill is a small sensor that works by means of electromagnetic fields. When the pill is swallowed, the device can monitor its location as it moves through the digestive tract.
The capsule, which is swallowed only, helps doctors determine which part of the digestive tract is causing a slowdown, which is helpful in better identifying how to treat the patient’s condition. The researchers demonstrated that they could use this technology to track the sensor as it moved through the digestive tract of large animals.
The ability to monitor the digestive tract without having to go to a hospital is important for understanding what is happening to a patient. Gastrointestinal motility disorders affect about 35 million Americans and can occur anywhere in the tube, resulting in food not moving through the tube. They are usually diagnosed by nuclear imaging or X-ray studies, or by inserting catheters containing pressure transducers that detect contractions of the GI tract.
The capsule helps to precisely identify the location of the problem within the GI tract, which is critical for proper treatment of the patient. The research team now hopes to work with collaborators to develop manufacturing processes for the system, with the hope of eventually testing it in human clinical trials.
