Video Capsule Endoscopy and Ingestible Electronics: Emerging Trends in Sensors, Circuits, Materials, Telemetry, Optics, and Rapid Reading Software

TL;DR

This review explores recent advances in ingestible capsule systems for gastrointestinal monitoring, highlighting innovations in sensors, materials, telemetry, software, and clinical applications, along with current challenges and future outlook.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive survey of hardware and software technologies, experimental and commercial systems, and recent research in biocompatible materials and energy sources for capsule endoscopy.

Findings

Advanced capsule features like panoramic imaging and closed-loop feedback

Clinical studies demonstrate safety and effectiveness

Emerging materials and energy solutions enhance capsule capabilities

Abstract

Real-time monitoring of the gastrointestinal tract in a safe and comfortable manner is valuable for the diagnosis and therapy of many diseases. Within this realm, our review captures the trends in ingestible capsule systems with a focus on hardware and software technologies used for capsule endoscopy and remote patient monitoring. We introduce the structure and functions of the gastrointestinal tract, and the FDA guidelines for ingestible wireless telemetric medical devices. We survey the advanced features incorporated in ingestible capsule systems, such as microrobotics, closed-loop feedback, physiological sensing, nerve stimulation, sampling and delivery, panoramic imaging with adaptive frame rates, and rapid reading software. Examples of experimental and commercialized capsule systems are presented with descriptions of their sensors, devices, and circuits for gastrointestinal health monitoring. We also show the recent research in biocompatible materials and batteries, edible electronics, and alternative energy sources for ingestible capsule systems. The results from clinical studies are discussed for the assessment of key performance indicators related to the safety and effectiveness of ingestible capsule procedures. Lastly, the present challenges and outlook are summarized with respect to the risks to health, clinical testing and approval process, and technology adoption by patients and clinicians.