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This little pill camera could be the end of colonoscopies

Feb 7, 2022 by Alex Baker 3 Comments

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A tiny camera that fits inside a pill-sized capsule has revolutionised cancer screening in Scotland. Over two thousand patients have now used the PillCam rather than the more traditional invasive method of having a colonoscopy. The PillCam has reduced waiting times for bowel cancer screening and allowed faster diagnoses, an important factor in battling the disease.

The procedure itself is technically called a colon capsule endoscopy (CCE). The tiny camera is swallowed like a pill and then travels through the digestive system, recording 50,000 images along its journey. The images from the camera are stored in a recorder worn on a belt around the patient’s waist.

The traditional method of testing for bowel problems is an invasive procedure that requires the patient to be sedated. Anyone who has experienced a colonoscopy will tell you it’s not particularly pleasant. The PillCam, however, can be administered in hospital, and then the patient can return home during the process, eventually excreting the camera after it has passed through the digestive tract.

Patients have reported the procedure to be completely painless and not unpleasant, although still do have to do the same prep work beforehand as a traditional colonoscopy requires. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a considerable reduction in investigative procedures so cutting edge technology such as this is having a positive impact on getting patients screened and treated as quickly as possible.

The camera can capture between two and six frames per second, and although in Scotland has been used mostly for bowel cancer screening, the device can also be used to monitor Chrohn’s disease, anaemia, and bleeding of the intestines.

I’m not sure about you but I think I prefer the idea of swallowing a tiny camera than having one going in the other direction!

[Via BBC News]

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Filed Under: news Tagged With: medical photography, Pillcam, small camera

About Alex Baker

Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

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Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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