A Pill-Sized Innovation for Advanced Diagnostics
Imagine a capsule the size of a regular pill which will be able to execute medical tests. This cutting-edge technology is called Pillbot. The capsule works similar to any other medicinal pill that a person may be swallowing, but there's something special inside a Bullirobo tiny robot camera. As it travels through the gastrointestinal tract, it takes in high-resolution photographs and video recordings, which are broadcasted in real time on a computer monitor. Through this, doctors can be able to make accurate diagnoses without requiring any invasive processes. This capsule was developed by the US-based company for medical innovation, Indiatex, in association with the Mayo Clinic and is currently being tested at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) in Gachibowli, Hyderabad.
Experts speaking at a press conference in AIG said that the Pillbot has unique features. Dr. D. Nageswara Reddy, Chairman of AIG Hospital, said that this device is wire-free and does not require anesthesia, hence painless compared to endoscopy. After its journey through the digestive tract, the capsule comes out of the body on its own. The weight of this capsule is 1.8 grams, and it is planned to reduce its weight further for patient comfort.
Dr. Nageswara Reddy said that the team is price sensitive. Now, capsule endoscopy is costing between ₹30,000 to ₹40,000. But it will be made cheaper soon also at ₹5,000 to ₹7,000. The remote controls of the device allow the doctors to even monitor from the Internet by sitting far away. Advanced medical diagnostics through this innovation will prove to be one of the epoch-making breakthroughs in the medical field.
Dr. Alex Lubke, Co-founder of Indiatex, explained the therapeutic capability of the Pillbot. It does not only diagnose but can treat early-stage cancers, ulcers, and intestinal bleeding. The data captured by the capsule is analyzed with artificial intelligence, which helps to understand the patient's digestive health in detail. The AI ensures that proper diagnosis and timely intervention take place.
This would be the first step in the future of gastroenterology in the history of medicine. The Pillbot is an advanced medical device that has diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in one device, which can be afforded by patients, and it is a tremendous step forward in the treatment of patients. As soon as the trials continue, this technology is expected to be widely available, ushering in a new era of non-invasive medical solutions.
