Capsule endoscopy is a procedure designed to help your physician see what is happening inside parts of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

The GI tract is the tube which extends from the mouth to the anus in which the movement of muscles digests food. During the procedure, a patient swallows a vitamin-sized pill with a camera inside. Transported smoothly and painlessly through the GI tract by the body’s own natural peristalsis, the PillCam video capsule transmits images of different parts of your body such as the small intestine and the esophagus. Since the first PillCam video capsule was approved by the FDA in 2001, more than 700,000 patients have safely swallowed one of the PillCam video capsules.

Capsule endoscopy is the least invasive and most direct way for doctor’s to see the entire small intestine and esophagus. Hundreds of clinical studies conducted by the world’s leading gastroenterologists have shown the value of the PillCam video capsules in helping doctors diagnose or rule out disorders of the GI tract.

PILLCAM SB

The PillCam SB video capsule is designed specifically to help your doctor see inside your small bowel (small intestine) to diagnose disorders such as Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, benign and cancerous tumors, ulcerative colitis as well as others disorders. The small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract that connects the stomach to the large intestine and absorbs nutrients.

PillCam SB transmits images at a rate of two images per second for approximately eight hours, resulting in more than 50,000 images.

PILLCAM ESO

The PillCam ESO video capsule is designed specifically to help your doctor see inside your esophagus to diagnose diseases such as esophageal varices, which may result in fatal bleeding, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett’s esophagus, which is an early indication for esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a tube shaped organ that connects the throat to your stomach.

PillCam ESO provides a patient-friendly alternative to esophageal endoscopy and the associated sedation and discomfort. PillCam ESO contains an imaging device and light source at both ends of the capsule and takes up to 14 images per second or a total of 2,600 color images as it passes down the esophagus.

PillCam SB

After fasting the night before the procedure, the PillCam capsule endoscopy process starts with a visit to your doctor’s office where you will be given a glass of water to help swallow the vitamin-sized pill. As it travels through your body, the camera-in-a-pill transmits images to a small recording device worn around your waist. After swallowing the PillCam video capsule, you can go about your daily routine and revisit to the doctor’s office eight hours later to return the device. Your doctor can then review the images taken by the capsule to determine the cause of your symptoms. The pill passes naturally with a bowel movement usually within 24 hours.
 

PillCam ESO

After fasting for two hours prior to the procedure, the PillCam capsule endoscopy process starts with a visit to your doctor’s office where you will be given a glass of water to help swallow the vitamin-sized pill while lying on your back. After swallowing the PillCam ESO video capsule, you will be raised by 30-degree angles every two minutes over a six-minute period until you are sitting fully upright. As it travels through your body, the camera-in-a-pill transmits images to a small recording device worn around your waist. The total procedure takes approximately 20 minutes and can be preformed in the doctor’s office, hospital or clinic. Your doctor can then review the images taken by the capsule to determine the cause of your symptoms. The pill passes naturally with a bowel movement usually within 24 hours.