The document describes a pill camera, which is a pill-sized device that can be swallowed to examine the gastrointestinal tract by taking pictures. It works by transmitting pictures wirelessly as it passes through the digestive system, helping doctors diagnose conditions. The pill camera provides a noninvasive alternative to surgery for visualization of the GI tract. However, image quality and lack of control are still limitations that need improvement.
2. CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
DESCRIPTION
SOME TYPES OF PILL CAMERAS
INSIDE A PILL CAMERA
PROCEDURE
HOW IT WORKS INSIDE THE BODY
USES
ADVANTAGES
DRAWBACKS AND OVERCOMES
CONCLUSION
3. INTRODUCTION
Imagine a vitamin pill-sized
camera that could travel through
your body taking pictures, helping
diagnose a problem which doctor
previously would have found only
through surgery. No longer is
such technology the stuff of
science fiction films.
4. DESCRIPTION
The pill (developed at university of Washington) consists of 7optical
fibers.
One for illumination and the rest six for collecting light.
Once swallowed, electric current flows through the pill that causes
the encased fibers to bounce back and forth such that its electronic
eye would be able to scan the GI tract.
The tip will illuminate red, green and blue laser light helping in
visuality,
All this processing together combined will give us two-dimensional
picture helping in diagnosis.
The images can be retrieved from the recording device worn around
patient's waist as a belt.
5. SOME TYPES OF PILL CAMERAS
Capsule endoscopy with Pill Cam ESO can be performed in less than 30
minutes, and the results can be quickly interpreted. Pill cam ESO is used for
screening of esophageal pathologies such as Barrett’s esophagus. These
patients are usually otherwise healthy, Don’t expect one to die shortly after
ingestion of the pill.
Pill Cam ESO video capsules measure 11mm x 26mm and weighs less than
four grams. They contain an imaging device and light source at both ends of
the video capsule and take up to 18 images per second as it passes down the
esophagus.
Pill Cam ESO was initially cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration in November 2004 and provides a time-efficient and patient-
friendly method for visualization of the esophagus.
Spider pill offers new way to scan for diseases including colon cancer
6. INSIDE A PILL CAMERA
OPTICAL DOME
LENS HOLDER
LENS
ILLUMINATING
LED’S
CMOS IMAGE SENSOR
BATTERY
ASIC TRANSMITER
ANTENNA
7. INSIDE A PILL CAMERA
1.OPTICAL DOME
The optical Dome contains the light receiving window. The window
along with container are sealed to prevent infiltration of digestive
fluids inside the capsule.
2.LENS HOLDER
The lens holder is that part of the capsule which accommodates the
lens.
3.LENS
The lens is that part of the pill camera arranged behind the Light
Receiving window.
4.ILLUMINATING LED
Around the Lens & CMOS Sensor, four LEDs (Light Emitting
Diodes) are present. These plural lighting devices are arranged in
donut shape.
8. INSIDE A PILL CAMERA
5.CMOS IMAGE SENSOR
CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) produces very
high quality images.
6. BATTERY
Silver oxide primary batteries are used (Zinc/Alkaline
electrolyte/Silver oxide). Such a battery has a even discharge voltage,
disposable.
7. ASIC TRANSMITTER
Two transmitting electrodes are connected to the outlines of ASIC
(Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Transmitter.
8. ANTENNA
The dome containing the antenna is made of no conducting material
which is harmless to the human body. Parylene coated on to poly
ethylene or polypropylene is used.
9. PROCEDURE
Capsule is swallowed by the
patient like a conventional pill.
It takes images as it is propelled
forward by peristalsis.
A wireless recorder, worn on a belt,
receives the images transmitted by
the pill.
A computer workstation processes
the data and produces a short video
clip or still images.
10. HOW IT WORKS INSIDE THE BODY
Down the Hatch
The patient gulps down the capsule, and the digestive process begins. Over the next
eight hours, the pill travels passively down the esophagus and through roughly 20 to
25 feet of intestines, where it will capture up to 870,000 images. The patient feels
nothing.
Power Up
Batteries would be too bulky, so the cam draws its power through induction charging.
A vest worn by the patient contains a coil that continuously transmits power
Start Snapping
When it reaches the intestines, the cam begins capturing 30 two-mega pixel images
per second. Fluorescent and white LEDs in the pill illuminate the tissue walls.
Spin For Close-Ups
By mounting the camera facing the side and spinning 360 degrees so that it shoots
directly at the tissue walls
11. HOW IT WORKS INSIDE THE BODY
OffloadData
Instead of storing each two-mega pixel image internally, Sayaka continually
transmits shots wirelessly to an antenna in the vest, where they are saved to a
standard SD memory card.
DeliverVideo
Doctors pop the SD card into a PC, and software compiles thousands of
overlapping images into a flat map of the intestines that can be as large as
1,175 megapixels. Doctors can replay the ride as video and magnify a
problem area up to 75-fold to study details.
Leave the Body
At around $100, the cam is disposable, so patients can simply flush it away.
12. USES
Crohn's Disease.
Malabsorption Disorders.
Tumors of the small intestine & Vascular Disorders.
Ulcerative Colitis
Medication Related To Small Bowel Injury
13. ADVANTAGES
Painless, no side affects or complications.
Miniature size so can move easily through the digestive system.
Accurate, precise and low power consumption.
Images taken are of very high quality.
Made of bio compatible material.
14. DRAWBACKS AND OVERCOMES
Patients with gastrointestinal structures or narrowing are not good candidates
for this procedure due to the risk of obstruction.
The Pill will get stucked if there is a partial obstruction in the small intestine.
Impossible to control Camera behavior.
For one thing when the flash goes off and light flashes out of the patients
navel it amuses the doctor but not so much the patient.
Also, although the pill camera is easy to swallow there is considerable
discomfort when they pull the camera out.
Users of this camera should also be aware that it is very difficult to find a
source that will print out the pictures.
Wal-Mart, and others, absolutely refuse to touch this camera.
15. CONCLUSION
However, this is a camera that still
has a long way to go in terms of
image quality and lack if control
options. While the list of problems
has grown shorter it is still too long
for a camera of this type. Feels that
while much harder to swallow, hope
the developing technology would
yield better results and offer much
wider flexibility and controls for the
photographer.
So regretfully, we cannot give this
camera our full recommendation.
Hopefully the next generation will
address some of these many issues.