Capsule Endoscopy is a procedure worthy of a scene in a futuristic movie; the patient swallows a vitamin-sized capsule containing a tiny wireless camera, and as the capsule travels through the digestive tract, it takes thousands of color pictures that are transmitted to a recorder worn around the waist.

These images are then transferred to a computer with special software that strings the images together to create a video, which the doctor can then view to look for abnormalities within the digestive tract, particularly in the small intestine, an area that cannot be reached by more traditional endoscopy procedures.

And while the capsule also provides good visualization of the colon, European researchers say it isn’t as effective in detecting pre-cancerous colon lesions and cancer as conventional colonoscopy.

Though not approved for use in the U.S., the first-generation version of PillCam COLON is now commercially available in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Canada and Australia. Homi Shamir, CEO and President of Given Imaging, says they “are working closely with leading gastroenterologists to develop our second-generation PillCam COLON with the goal of increasing its sensitivity and simplifying the procedure for patients who are unwilling or unable to undergo a colonoscopy procedure.” He says the new version is currently advancing through clinical trials in Israel and could be unveiled in Europe at the Gastro 2009 conference this fall.

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