NaviCam (video capsule for testing the digestive system)

2023: Product Announcement

On June 1, 2023, American researchers from the School of Medicine and Health at George Washington University announced the development of an innovative guided video capsule designed to diagnose digestive problems.

It is noted that capsule endoscopy has existed for a long time. The technology provides for the study of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) with the help of a special swallowed module, which contains a video camera and a signal transmitter. Power can be supplied either from a built-in battery or wirelessly from an external source. However, the movement of such devices inside the gastrointestinal tract is not controlled by doctors and is ensured by natural digestive or motor processes. The new system, called NaviCam, allows you to bypass this limitation.

NaviCam endoscopy capsule

NaviCam was developed with financial support from AnX Robotica. The essence of the technology comes down to the use of magnetic control to control the movement of the video capsule. The system consists of a special couch with a magnetic dome, on which the patient is located. After swallowing the capsule, the doctor can control its movement using two joysticks. The computer monitor displays visualization data.

The solution allows three-dimensional translational and two-dimensional rotational control to accurately change the location of the capsule inside the stomach. The operator, in particular, can control the movement up-down, forward-back and left-right, as well as tilt and rotate the capsule.

Studies have shown that when using the new method, no high-risk lesions in the stomach were missed, and 80% of patients preferred the capsule method of traditional endoscopy. It is alleged that no security issues have been identified.^[1]

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