Tiny Video Capsule Provides Endoscopy Alternative

Researchers at George Washington University tested a minature video capsule, NaviCam, created by AnX Robotica as an endoscopy Alternative. AnX Roboica not only created the technology but also funded the research.
 
This new capsule allows physicians to remotely drive the video capsule to all reigns of the stomach to photograph and visualize potential problem areas. The NaviCam moves through three dimensions in the stomach using an external magnet and hand-held joysticks. This new technology operates similar to the capabilities of traditional tube-based endoscopy.
 
“A traditional endoscopy is an invasive procedure for patients, not to mention it is costly due to the need for anesthesia and time off work. If larger studies can prove this method is sufficiently sensitive to detect high-risk lesions, magnetically controlled capsules could be used as a quick and easy way to screen for health problems in the upper GI tract such as ulcers or stomach cancer,” said Andrew Meltzer, a professor of emergency medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. 
 
This was the first study conducted with magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy in the United States. The magnet allows the capsule to painlessly move throughout all atomic areas of the stomach, recording video and photographs of any possible inflammation, bleeding, or malignant lesions. This new method has the potential for one day doctor’s and ER visits, providing immediate diagnosis. While the joystick requires additional training, artificial intelligence software is being developed of self-drive the capsule and record any risky abnormalities. Recording can be transmitted for off-site review should a gastroenterologist is not on-site for image evaluation.
 
The GW University study was conducted with 40 patients at a physician’s office building. It was found that the doctor could magnetically control the capsule endoscopy to all major parts of the stomach with a 95% rate of visualization. Capsules were also driven by ER physicians and the study reports were reviewed by an off-site attending gastroenterologist. 
 
Participants also received a follow up endoscopy to compare the new method result to. No high-risk lesions were missed with the new method and 80% of the patients referred the capsule method to traditional endoscopy.
 
No safety problems were found associated with the new method. However, the study found the limitation of the capsule to be the inability to perform biopsies of detected lesions. 
Meltzer headed the study and cautions the study as a pilot in which a much larger trial should be conducted. The study has been published in the open-access, iGIE online journal in the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.