You've got some sort of gasto-intestinal (GI) disorder and for your doctor to make a definitive diagnosis, he needs to know what's going on inside your GI tract. He may perform an endoscopy, which often requires sedation, or soon, he may have the option to use the SmartPilly.

The SmartPill is an ingestible device that allows non-invasive monitoring of a patient's GI tract. It monitors biomedical data such as pH, pressure, temperatures and the time it takes to pass the whole GI tract, and transmits the data wirelessly to a data receiver.

As the ingestible SmartPill pH.p Capsule passes through the GI tract, it transmits data over very low power RF carrier frequencies to the SmartPill Data Receiver that is worn by the patient (supported by either a belt or lanyard). The SmartPill Data Receiver records pressure, temperature and pH measurement data, and elapsed and real time. After the outpatient exploratory examination is completed, the patient returns the SmartPill Data Receiver to the Physician who places it in the SmartPill Data Receiver Docking Station to download captured data to a PC. The Gastroenterologist then uses SmartPill MotiliGI software to analyze and display the data.

Aside from being non-invasive, the SmartPill is convenient (may be conducted on an out-patient basis), fast, and painless.
Pending approval from the US FDA, the developers are hoping to release the device into the market in a few months. At the same time, they are also seeking approval in Europe and beyond.

"Our international network of distribution partners will make the SmartPill GI Monitoring System available to patients across the globe," said David Barthel, SmartPill Corp. president and CEO. "This network, combined with our upcoming European clinical trials will strengthen our position internationally as we anticipate product release later this year."

Read more about the SmartPill here.

About the author: Ruth Schaffer is a Microbiologist by training and currently authors the Allergy and Biotechnology weblogs for Creative Weblogging. She is a mother to a bi-racial, bilingual, precocious 3-yr old.