PILLCAM WIRELESS CAPSULE TECHNOLOGY PART -2

WIRELESS CAPSULE TECHNOLOGY
PART - 2
Procedure : A person must fast for 10 hours prior to
undergoing capsule endoscopy for small intestine, but
can eat four hours after swallowing the capsule.
Lewis says he schedules patients early in the morning,
so they can eatlunch and dinner. Wire leads with sensors
on the end are affixed to the patient''s abdomen and
connected to a data recording device worn on a belt around
the waist.
The pillCam SB takes about eight hours to move through the
small intestine, taking two pictures per second with its
single camera.During this time, the person can leave the
doctor''s office and go about a regular routine while wearing
the sensors and recorder. Later, the person returns to hand
over the sensors and data recorder.
The physician downloads about 57,000 color images into a
computer, which compresses them to form a video. The physician
then views the video on a monitor to determine the next step
in treatment. A two - hour fast is required before taking the
pillCam ESO, which views the esophagus. Wire leads with sensors
are placed on the patient''s chest and connected to a recording
device. The person swallows the capsule with water while lying
flat on the back.Every two minutes over a six- minute period,
the person is raised by 30 -degree angles until sitting upright,
then remains upright for an additional 15 minutes to make sure
the capsule has traveled through the entire esophagus.
The gradual rise to a sitting position slows down the movement
of the PillCam ESO, giving it additional time to take pictures.
In contrast to the pillcam SB, which moves slowly through the
snake-like turns of the small intestine over several hours,
the pillCam ESO " moves through the esophagus in minutes,"
says Cooper.
Given Imaging added a second miniature camera to the ESO capsule,
putting one camera at either end, to take about 2,600 total
color images of the esophagus.
USES:
a) Physicians use the pillcam ESO to look for conditions such as
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD occurs when
a muscle valve in the esophagus malfunctions, allowing stomach
acid to flow up into the esophagus and cause heartburn.
Left untreated, GERD may lead to a precancerous condition
called Barret''s esophagus.

b) Use of the pillCam ESO for patients " Who are reticent to have
an upper endoscopy but are still concerned that they may
develop such as Barret''s esophagus."
Capsule endoscopy, as with traditional endoscopy,can help
guide treatment.
c) The pillcam SB, which views the small intestine, can help determine
the cause of persistent abdominal pain, unexplained rectal bleeding,
or diarrhea. Physicians use it to detect polyps,cancer, and other
causes of bleeding and anemia, such as Crohn''s disease, a chronic
inflammation of the digestive tract that can cause abdominal cramps,
diarrhea, and anemia.

d) The PillCam can see lesions that indicate sources of gastrointesinal
bleeding.
e) Crohn''s disease is not apparent on X -rays but can be detected with
the use of the pillCam.
f) The pillCam SB allows doctors to see the entire 20 - foot - long
small intestine; The battery has an eight- hour life expectancy,
which generally is long enough to photograph the small intestine.