Pill-sized camera snaps secrets of the intestine

A pill-sized camera that is swallowed and takes pictures as it travels through the digestive system has been approved by United States regulators.

The disposable camera, made in Israel, is an advance in diagnosing cancer, polyps, bleeding and anaemia, says the Food and Drug Administration.

Dan Schultz, deputy director of the FDA office that reviewed the camera, said it could take pictures of the small intestine, a 6.1m section that had been a "blind spot" for present technology.

"The main advantage is that it traverses the entire length of the small intestine. Current technology we have is pretty much limited to being able to visualise the upper part of the intestine," he said.

Patients swallow the camera, which looks like a pill capsule. It travels through the stomach and small and large intestines before leaving the body through the stool.

On its way through, the device shines a light, takes two pictures a second and transmits them by radio waves to a recorder worn on a patient's belt.

Doctors transfer the digital images to a computer. They can view the images as still shots or run them together quickly like a video.

The standard method for detecting abnormalities in the intestines is an endoscope that doctors put through the mouth to the small intestine.

Mr Schultz said the new camera should complement but not replace endoscopes, x-rays or other traditional diagnostic tools.

The Given Imaging Diagnostic System has a battery life of eight hours, which is long enough to photograph the small intestine but not the large intestine.

The agency said the camera was not appropriate for certain patients, such as people with intestinal obstructions.

- REUTERS