Although the device is still in the early stages of development, they have demonstrated that it could be magnetically controlled to move through extracted pig intestines and sweep useful samples from the intestinal surface. In the future, this type of device could provide a more comfortable and complementary option to current endoscopic procedures.
Beyond the reach of routine scopes
Endoscopes are indispensable when doctors need to examine the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, whether it’s to take photos, collect samples or provide treatments such as removing polyps. Typical scopes go either from the mouth to the beginning of the small intestine (an upper endoscopy) or through the large intestine (a colonoscopy). Exploring much of the long and narrow small intestine is considerably more challenging.