Capsule Endoscope

We hear so often how technology and the minituration of technology will continue to bring tremendous advances to medicine. The whole area of nanotechnology is quite fascinating to me. So I thought I'd post some details / thoughts around this rather interesting medical invention that is currently in use (to date its been used by 100,000 people world wide). From the website of Given Imaging they describe their latest technology, the M2A, as follows:

Given Diagnostic System is a first-line tool in the detection of abnormalities of the small bowel. To date over 100,000 patients worldwide have swallowed the M2A and experienced the advantages of Capsule Endoscopy.

M2A Capsule Endoscopy has already been utilized to diagnose diseases of the small intestine including Crohn's Disease, Celiac disease and other malabsorption disorders, benign and malignant tumors of the small intestine, vascular disorders and medication related small bowel injury.

So what is it exactly? Its a small capsule that looks a bit bigger than a Tylenol. You swallow it and inside is a small camera and flash that is snapping pictures of your inards. This continues for 8 hours and the photos/video/data are transmitted back to a device you wear around your waist. It is meant to replace the intrusive procedures that exist today and I would think that because it is so much less intrusive than techniques used today, it could prompt people to seek out their doctor and have tests done earlier than in the past. As technology like this continues to come into effect and evolve I think that we'll see more and more of this type of near-real-time monitoring of our health.

So this is a all great but its probably not available to us in Canada yet right? Wrong. I used the physician locator form on the web site and was sent a prompt email with the following locations close to where I live.

Ste. Justine Hospital (Pediatrics Only) - Montreal, QC Contact: Dr. Ana Sant Anna (514-345-4931 x3566)

St. Michael's Hospital - Toronto, ON
Contact: Dr. Rima Petroniene (416-864-5388)

Digestive Health Clinic, Inc. - Thornhill, ON L3T 2C6
Contact: Dr. Par Nijhawan (905-731-9311)

McMaster University - Hamilton, ON M4M 5K3
Contact: David Armstrong, M.D. (905-521-2100, ext. 76404)

F. T. Bray, M.D. - Ottawa, ON K2G 1W2
Contact: Endoscopy Clinic (613-823-0901)
Website: www.drftbray.com

The Beresford Clinic c/o The Trillium Hlth Ctr Retail Mall - Ontario,
ON L5B 1B8
Contact: Dr. Robert Clark / Dr. Elaine Chin (905-848-7979)

So the future continues (as always) to be closer than we think as this non-invasive technology for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders is a perfect example of that.

Comments

[Pharmacy Drugstore]

Congratulations on your page, it is really interesting

[Pharmacy Drugstore]

good info!!! really important