Siemens Healthcare announced today that they are working with Olympus Medical Systems to develop a new magnetically guided capsule endoscope system. While current capsule endoscopes rely on the GI tract’s natural peristalsis to move through the patient’s body, the new system aims to give physicians more control over which areas of the GI tract are imaged by using an external magnetic system to steer the endoscope.
From the press release:
During the examination, the patient’s stomach will be filled with water to provide a field of vision for the capsule endoscope and enable navigation. The patient will be positioned within the guidance magnet, placing the stomach of the patient with the capsule endoscope in the center of the system. It is anticipated that the physician will control the motion of the capsule with a joystick. It will be possible to tilt and rotate the capsule and move it horizontally and vertically.
Press release: Siemens Healthcare and Olympus Medical Systems Corporation announce collaborative development of advanced magnetically guided capsule endoscope system for intragastric observation…
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