The camera can provide digital images of the entire length of the small intestine (as long as 25 feet) and could be an important step forward in diagnosing small bowel disorders, says a study in the January issue of Radiology.
The "camera pill" is called capsule endoscopy (CE). It's about the size of a large vitamin pill and is swallowed by the patient after an eight-hour fast. The CE transmits a continuous stream of digital images to a small data recorder that's worn around the patient's waist. That data is then downloaded and analyzed by the doctor.