VA Bostron Installs SmartPill
The Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System installed the SmartPill GI Monitoring System, as described in a press release issued by SmartPill.
The SmartPill System includes the SmartPill pH.p capsule, which is swallowed by patients. The device then travels throughout the gastrointestinal tract. While it travels, it collects information about the status of the gastrointestinal system.
The device captures information including gastric emptying times from segmented transit times combining both the small and large bowel, as well as information about total GI tract transit. This is the first device available to provide such information. The utility of the SmartPill is diagnosing patients who have GI motility disorders, such as gastroparesis.
Patients are given the pill to swallow at the doctor’s office and then can continue normal activities. The data is wirelessly transmitted to the SmartPill Data Receiver, which is about the size of a small cellular phone. Patients wear the Receiver device either on their belt or around their neck. The other system components are a data receiver docking station and a laptop computer equipped with the SmartPill MotiliGI software program.
The partnership established with the Boston VA allows veterans to be assessed with this technology, which can aid in the diagnosis of gastric disease, particularly slowed gastric emptying.
November 12, 2007 Related topics: New Technology & Innovation, Contract Awards, Gastroenterology