iMAG (intestinal diagnostic capsule)

2023: Diagnostic capsule with GPS analogue for gut created

In mid-February 2023, American scientists announced the development of a platform that allows 3D to track the location of a small diagnostic capsule when it passes through the gastrointestinal tract (GI).

It is noted that disorders of the motor function of the intestines, such as Crohn's disease, are a common problem that affects many people around the world. Disorders like this occur when nerves or muscles in the gut do not work in a coordinated manner, which can cause cramps or paralysis. The most common methods for investigating and monitoring gastrointestinal motility disorders are endoscopy and the use of potentially harmful radiation (radioactive scanning and computed tomography). Despite the fact that these methods have become the standard, they are not only expensive, but must also be carried out in a hospital.

Diagnostic capsule with GPS analogue for iMAG intestine created

The new technology, called iMAG, was created by researchers at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and. California Institute of Technology It provides for the use of a swallowed wireless device designed for anatomical mapping of the gastrointestinal tract. This tiny capsule transmits information through - Bluetooth to or smartphone some other gadget.

Another component of the system is flat high-performance electromagnetic coils placed on the patient's back to create a local and safe three-dimensional magnetic field (they can be hidden, for example, in a backpack). Experiments in pigs have shown that iMAG allows you to accurately determine the location of the capsule in the intestine, and therefore measure activity in certain areas of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to monitoring, the system can be used for therapeutic purposes - for drug delivery or electrical stimulation.^[1]

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