Tethered capsule endomicroscopy enables less invasive imaging of gastrointestinal tract microstructure

Nat Med. 2013 Feb;19(2):238-40. doi: 10.1038/nm.3052. Epub 2013 Jan 13.

Abstract

Here we introduce tethered capsule endomicroscopy, which involves swallowing an optomechanically engineered pill that captures cross-sectional microscopic images of the gut wall at 30 μm (lateral) × 7 μm (axial) resolution as it travels through the digestive tract. Results in human subjects show that this technique rapidly provides three-dimensional, microstructural images of the upper gastrointestinal tract in a simple and painless procedure, opening up new opportunities for screening for internal diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Barrett Esophagus / diagnostic imaging
  • Capsule Endoscopy / methods*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / ultrastructure*
  • Humans
  • Ultrasonography