Last year, Shivshanker added a new, noninvasive weapon to his gastroenterological arsenal. Instead of the traditional endoscopy, with some patients he uses the PillCam, a plastic capsule about the size of a large vitamin pill that is fitted with video cameras at each end.
The patient is not sedated, as in an endoscopy, but simply swallows the pill with water. It progresses down the esophagus and takes about 2,600 color pictures at a rate of 14 per second. After 20 minutes, the doctor evaluates the video images and makes a diagnosis. The disposable capsule is passed naturally, usually within 24 hours.
The wave of the future! The original pill cameras took an image every other second, this is much faster. This allows it to evaluate the esophagus and GE junction.
Health
1 comment:
Through a recent study, it has been found that a miniscule video camera implanted inside a pill could spot unusual growths in the colon or rectal region, but not as accurate as colonoscopy does. A scientist have stated that pillcam colon was safe, and can visualise the colon. If its really effective, then one can go for it.
Post a Comment