Letters To The Editor
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2013; 19(35): 5943-5946
Published online Sep 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i35.5943
Capsule-odometer: A concept to improve accurate lesion localisation
Alexandros Karargyris, Anastasios Koulaouzidis
Alexandros Karargyris, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
Anastasios Koulaouzidis, Endoscopy Unit, Centre for Liver and Digestive Disorders, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, Scotland, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Karargyris A conceived and developed the capsule-odometer design, drafted the study, and performed the in vitro experiment; Koulaouzidis A drafted the study and performed the ex vivo experiment; both co-authors performed critical final draft revisions and editing.
Supported by SynMed© UK related to this work; Dr. Koulaouzidis A has also received lecture honoraria from Dr Falk Pharma, United kingdom
Correspondence to: Anastasios Koulaouzidis, MD, FEBG, FRSPH, FRCPE, Endoscopy Unit, Centre for Liver and Digestive Disorders, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, EH16 4SA Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. akoulaouzidis@hotmail.com
Telephone: +44-131-2421126 Fax: +44-131-2421618
Received: July 1, 2013
Revised: July 28, 2013
Accepted: August 17, 2013
Published online: September 21, 2013
Processing time: 82 Days and 4.6 Hours
Abstract

In order to improve lesion localisation in small-bowel capsule endoscopy, a modified capsule design has been proposed incorporating localisation and - in theory - stabilization capabilities. The proposed design consists of a capsule fitted with protruding wheels attached to a spring-mechanism. This would act as a miniature odometer, leading to more accurate lesion localization information in relation to the onset of the investigation (spring expansion e.g., pyloric opening). Furthermore, this capsule could allow stabilization of the recorded video as any erratic, non-forward movement through the gut is minimised. Three-dimensional (3-D) printing technology was used to build a capsule prototype. Thereafter, miniature wheels were also 3-D printed and mounted on a spring which was attached to conventional capsule endoscopes for the purpose of this proof-of-concept experiment. In vitro and ex vivo experiments with porcine small-bowel are presented herein. Further experiments have been scheduled.

Keywords: Capsule endoscopy; Odometer; Localisation; Hardware; Software

Core tip: In order to improve localisation, capsule endoscopy developers proposed the use of an applied external magnetic field. However, this affords only a rough estimate of capsule - hence lesion - localization. Therefore, a modified capsule design was proposed in 2010. It consists of a capsule fitted with protruding wheels attached to a spring-mechanism. This allows the wheels to retract or expand to fit the lumen, whilst the capsule passes through the intestine, acting as a miniature odometer. Using three-dimensional printing technology, we built a conceptual capsule prototype and miniature wheels; with the latter, we perform in vitro and ex vivo proof-of-concept experiments.