Medtronic Has 1st Procedure with Next-Gen PillCam SB Capsule Endoscopy Kit

Medtronic announced that the University of Miami Health System (UHealth) successfully performed the first-ever procedure ingestion using its next-gen PillCam Genius SB capsule endoscopy kit.

The PillCam Genius SB kit, according to Medtronic, offers better flexibility through simplified equipment management. This way, patients can complete the procedure at a hospital, clinic, or from their home during a telehealth appointment.

The kit was designed to visualize the small bowel mucosa in adults to aid in detection and monitoring of Crohn’s disease, obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, and iron deficiency anemia when these abnormalities are not identified through traditional upper or lower endoscopy.

It also features a link device that replaces traditional data recorders. The wearable, single-use device stores images transmitted from the capsule and alerts patients with haptic vibations, audible signals, and LED lights when the procedure is complete.

The system was also designed to prevent discomfort with a patient-friendly adhesive that Medtronic said is easy to apply and remove the link device.

“Capsule endoscopy technology has advanced so that equipment management is simplified and makes capsule endoscopy more accessible and patient-centric,” said Jodie A. Barkin, M.D., FACG, FASGE, gastroenterologist at UHealth, Director of Pancreatic and Small Bowel Diseases, and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “The ability to conduct procedures remotely, combined with the seamless integration of advanced imaging, streamlines workflows for healthcare providers with additional capabilities and flexibility for health systems, and enhances the patient experience.”

“Advancing diagnostic precision while prioritizing patient convenience is at the core of what we do,” added Raj Thomas, president of Medtronic’s Endoscopy business. “This first ingestion highlights the potential of the PillCam Genius SB Kit to transform small bowel diagnostics, providing greater accessibility and ease for both patients and clinicians alike.”