Israel-based Given Imaging' PillCam may one day eliminate the need for colonoscopy and other invasive gastrointestinal testing methods, according to the Jewish Business News.
The PillCam takes eight hours to make its way through a patient's GI tract while transmitting 50,000 images to be reviewed and downloaded by a physician. Unlike a traditional endoscopic procedure, it does not require any sedation and allows for visualization of the entire small intestine.
A PillCam also costs about $500 while a colonoscopy can cost between $800 and $1,200.
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The PillCam takes eight hours to make its way through a patient's GI tract while transmitting 50,000 images to be reviewed and downloaded by a physician. Unlike a traditional endoscopic procedure, it does not require any sedation and allows for visualization of the entire small intestine.
A PillCam also costs about $500 while a colonoscopy can cost between $800 and $1,200.
More Articles on Gastroenterology:
Gastrointestinal Specialists Turns 30
Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Therapy May Be as Effective as Surgery for Esophageal Cancer
AGA Releases Clinical Decision Tool for Hepatitis C-Positive Patient Management