SmartPill® Tracks Your Tract
In 1995 I visited the exhibition in London's Tate Gallery of the (infamous) Turner Prize shortlist. Stepping into the darkness of Mona Hatoum's installation Corps Etranger I watched a video journey through her intestine and other bodily passages. Today she could avoid the discomfort of the endoscope in the interests of Art by using the multi-vitamin-pill sized Smartpill®.
When swallowed, SmartPill records its trip through the digestive tract using its battery of on board equipment and sensors, like a thermometer, pressure gauge and acidity meter.
Unlike the miniaturised submarine carrying Raquel Welch et al in the 1966 movie Fantastic Voyage, SmartPill is propelled by peristalsis. When excreted 24-48 hours later, a doctor downloads its data in less than 10 minutes and analyses them, a process which could transform the diagnosis of conditions like dyspepsia, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.
For more see Roger Dobson's article in the UK's Daily Mail of 25 April 2006 or visit SmartPill Corp's website.
