The partnership between Siemens Healthcare and Olympus Medical Systems to clinically implement a magnetically navigated capsule endoscopy system is moving ahead nicely. Since March, when we first reported on the joint effort to develop an externally steered endoscopic capsule, more than 50 patients have been enrolled in the first feasibility study. And results are quite encouraging.
Here’s how Siemens reports on the findings:
The patient swallows the capsule together with water. The patient is positioned in the system so that his stomach including the capsule is located in the center of an artificially generated magnetic field. The magnet generates varying magnetic fields in real time to navigate the capsule. The magnetic field enables the physician to control the capsule with a joystick. The cameras at both ends of the capsule transmit images from inside the stomach to the image processing system where the doctor can view the images. The capsule endoscope is approximately 31 mm long and measuring 11 mm in diameter.
A feasibility study of the magnetically guided capsule system (MGCE) has been performed at the renowned Institute Arnault Tzanck in Saint Laurent du Var (France) by Dr. Jean-Francois Rey and his colleagues H. Ogata, N. Hosoe, K. Ohtsuka, N. Ogata, K. Ikeda, H. Aihara, I. Pangtay, T. Hibi, S. Kudo and H. Tajiri. The study was published by the journal “Endoscopy” and showed that the new technology appears to be feasible and sufficiently accurate for gastric examination and may permit endoscopic examinations that are more patient-friendly and without sedation. In a study with more than 50 people, 30 findings were detected in the stomach. Fourteen of the 30 findings were detected with both the capsule and the conventional endoscope. Ten out of 30 were located with the capsule examination only and six with the conventional endoscope only.
“The magnetically guided capsule system provides reliable results for gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations compared to conventional endoscopy. The capsule enables less invasive stomach examinations. It means an enormous boost in acceptability for the patient “, concluded Dr. Jean-Francois Rey with respect to the feasibility study. The study participants were equally enthusiastic: 93% thought the examination comfortable, 89% found it easy to swallow the capsule, and regarding future examinations, all patients questioned preferred the magnetically guided capsule endoscope over conventional gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Abstract: Feasibility of stomach exploration with a guided capsule endoscope. Endoscopy. 2010 Jul;42(7):541-5.
Siemens press release: Magnetically guided capsule endoscope system from Siemens and Olympus for comfortable examination of the stomach – More than 50 participants in the first successful study …
Olympus press release: Magnetically guided capsule endoscope system for comfortable examination of the stomach …
Flashbacks: Siemens and Olympus Attempt to Improve GI Imaging With New Magnetically Guided Capsule Endoscope; Capsule Endoscope by Olympus; Olympus Launches High-resolution Endo Capsule System in Europe; EndoCapsule Gets FDA Clearance
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