A pill-shaped camera can be steered for digestive diagnosis
Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 5:24AM 
New technology could revolutionize the way doctors examine the digestive system. It is a pill-shaped capsule with a tiny camera inside called the NaviCam. You can remotely controll it by an external magnet and a joystick. Unlike conventional video capsule endoscopes that rely on gravity and the digestive system for movement, the NaviCam can be steered to any part of the stomach to capture images and videos of potential problems.
The NaviCam could offer a less invasive and more convenient alternative to the traditional endoscopy, which requires anesthesia and time off work. “Magnetically controlled capsules could be used as a quick and easy way to screen for health problems in the upper GI tract such as ulcers or stomach cancer,” said Andrew Meltzer, a professor of Emergency Medicine at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences, in GW's press release.