For the purpose of diagnosing and treating GI motility problems, a team of researchers has created a novel non-invasive device shaped like a pill. These magnetic fields allow for more precise tracking of the smart tablets as they go through the digestive system. Using high-frequency electromagnetic coils to encode each spatial location with a specific magnetic field magnitude, the system creates 3D magnetic field gradients. With the use of Bluetooth technology, the pill’s position may be tracked and sent to a mobile device.
According to the study’s authors, led by NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) assistant professor of Bioengineering Khalil Ramadi, the new technology has the potential to be used in clinical applications like accurate and efficient diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders and precise targeting of therapeutic interventions and minimally-invasive procedures. The 3D magnetic field gradient has many benefits over current “smart pills,” including a wider range of vision, higher spatial resolution, and completely wireless operation.
This swallowable wireless gadget can detect its immediate magnetic field and send that information to a remote receiver. Electromagnets built inside backpacks and coats apply the magnetic field, simulating real-world conditions for a more accurate gastrointestinal motility test. In big animals, the mechanism has been effectively mimicked in the digestive tract.
More than a third of the global population suffers from gastrointestinal diseases, making it imperative to create more precise and efficient diagnosis and treatment methods. Abnormal gut motility has been linked to many disorders, including GERD and gastroparesis. Existing technologies rely on invasive procedures like endoscopies or hazardous X-ray radiation, which typically need many hospital visits for assessment. The newly created “smart pill” provides an option that is less intrusive, more practical, and just as accurate.
The new “smart pill” has a wider range for monitoring how quickly food travels through the digestive tract. Its field of view (FOV) is better than that of any preceding microdevice by more than three orders of magnitude. The implications for the detection and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases are promising.
