The pill-sized device, called the Sonopill, being developed in a collaboration of researchers at the University of Leeds in London and the University of Glasgow in Scotland uses magnetic forces and artificial intelligence to maneuver the device through the gut.
“Previous studies showed that micro-ultrasound was able to capture high-resolution images and visualize small lesions in the superficial layers of the gut, providing valuable information about the early signs of disease." said Professor Pietro Valdastri, Chair of Robotics at Leeds’ in a press release. “With this study, we show that intelligent magnetic manipulation is an effective technique to guide a micro-ultrasound capsule to perform targeted imaging deep inside the human body."
The goal of the team is to make the Sonopill available to all patients as part of regular medical check-ups, to catch serious diseases at an early stage.
The Sonopill is a small capsule with a diameter of 21mm and length of 39mm, which the researcher hope to further reduce in size. The capsule contains a micro ultrasound transducer, and LED light, camera and magnet.
The device is connected to a small flexible cable that sends ultrasound images back to a computer in the exam room, as the capsule passed through the intestines and exits the body via the rectum.
The feasibility studies have been conducted on laboratory models and in pigs. The researchers hope to begin human tests in the near future.
Source: University of Leeds press release
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