The Magic Pill

Read another article about some technological advancements that they're making in the medical field. There's now a new way for doctors to check for Barrett's esophagus, which is a precancerous condition usually caused by constant exposure to stomach acid (gastroesophageal reflux disease).  Researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed an imaging system enclosed in a capsule about the size of a multivitamin pill that creates detailed, microscopic images of the esophageal wall. The system has several advantages over traditional endoscopy. The tiny pill gives doctors the opportunity to image the walls of a patients esophagus with out the use of sedation or need for a specific setting and equipment. They don't even require a specialized doctor in endoscopy to perform the procedure! The 3D imaging it produces gives better resolution results than traditional endoscopy in a less amount of time. The way the pill works is fascinating as well, the pill itself contains optical frequency domain imaging technology, a rapidly rotating laser tip emitting a beam of near-infrared light and sensors that record light reflected back from the esophageal lining. The capsule is attached to a string-like tether that connects to the imaging console and allows a physician or other health professional to control the system. After the capsule is swallowed by a patient, it is carried down the esophagus by normal contraction of the surrounding muscles. When the capsule reaches the entrance to the stomach, it can be pulled back up by the tether. Below is a picture of what one of these capsules look like.



It's only about an inch long, about the size of a regular multi-vitamin. Doctors are raving over this new device because it's a unexpensive, low risk way to screen a larger group of patients more quickly and efficiently. The hope is that by using this device they can better detect early signs of esophogeal cancer and treat it while it's in its early stage in order to help more patients recover faster.