Capsule System Research Articles

Experimental and simulation-based engineering of calcium alginate self-healing asphalt capsules

An emerging technology to mitigate the cracking of asphalt pavements is the use of self-healing capsules embedded in asphalt mixtures. In this study, self-healing capsules were fabricated by encapsulating asphalt rejuvenators with calcium alginate shells. While past studies have used a “brute force” design process for such capsules, the design and formulation of these can be optimized through careful consideration of chemical interactions and crack healing mechanisms. In this study, experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were used to engineer capsule–rejuvenator formulations to mitigate premature failure of capsules and improve self-healing efficiency. To explore the thermodynamic process, the inter-diffusion coefficient and blending degree between materials in the capsule system were evaluated at different temperatures and capsule designs to determine the ratio of capsules which survive mixing and compaction through molecular scale studies. MD provided an understanding of healing behavior by simulating and quantifying the fracture–healing–fracture process of the binder–capsule system. The experiments verified the MD model by quantifying oil release percentage from micro-extraction and recovery and fine aggregate matrix (FAM) healing efficiency. The research revealed that the interaction between asphalt binder, rejuvenator, and capsules highly depended on their chemical compositions and that the dose of capsule content influences the penetration degree, and structural failure process. Polymeric capsules experienced significant premature failure and content release at high temperatures (160 °C) compared to intermediate temperatures (25 °C) due to enhanced thermal movement. To optimize capsule performance, rejuvenators C and E, which had higher viscosities, required 30%–40% calcium alginate, while rejuvenator A with lower viscosity needed 40%–60% calcium alginate. Rejuvenators with more asphaltenes were more sensitive to the capsule shell protection effect, and strengthened healing efficiency, while rejuvenators with more aromatics resulted in better wetting and diffusion processes during healing. The healing index, derived from FAM experimental healing test and validated by simulations, indicated that approximately 40% shell material effectively prevented capsule breakage and resulted in a 50% reduction in healing capacity. This research therefore established a framework for engineering a combination of capsules for use at pavement scale based on an understanding of chemical interactions, mechanical properties, and experimental verification.

A Comparison of Passive Rewarming Systems Following Cold Water Immersion.

We studied field rewarming using a typical winter sleeping bag versus two heated hypothermia wrap systems in a semi-realistic lab simulation. 10 participants (8 M, 2 F) were cooled to 36.1°C core temperature through 10.5-11.5°C water immersion, then performed 60 min of passive rewarming in 0°C air. The rewarming methods tested were: 1) a -9°C rated mummy-style Sleeping Bag; 2) Doctor Down Rescue Wrap; and 3) Thermal Yielding Vascular Airway Capsule (TYVAC) system; the latter two methods included vapor barriers and two heating pads. Rectal and skin temperatures, along with metabolic heat production calculated via indirect calorimetry, were measured throughout rewarming. One male participant was removed from analysis due to lack of sufficient cooling. Rectal temperature decreased in the remaining participants by ∼1.1-1.2°C to 36.1°C during the initial immersion phase. Over the 60 min of rewarming, rectal temperature changes were Δ0.0 ± 0.6°C in a sleeping bag, Δ+0.2 ± 0.3°C in Doctor Down, and Δ+0.2 ± 0.3°C in TYVAC, with no significant differences across methods. Mean skin temperatures, metabolic heat production, and perceptual measures were also similar across methods with no method×time interactions. After 60 min of passive rewarming in cold conditions, all three rewarming methods were able to stall continued core cooling to levels at or slightly above post-immersion temperatures. With no differences in any physiological measures, it appears that all three rewarming methods are equally viable options for wilderness responders, and the choice should come down to environmetal conditions, availability, convenience, and ergonomics rather than rewarming efficacy.

Ultrasound-guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane block versus erector spinae plane block for post-operative pain after percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A comparative observational study

In India, about 12% of the population has kidney stones, and out of these about 50% may end up with some kidney function loss or renal damage percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is accepted as the procedure of choice for large or complex renal stones. Significant post-operative pain can occur after PCNL in first 24 hours due to distension in the renal capsule and pelvicalyceal system. The study aim was to compare the efficacy of ultrasonography guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane block with erector spinae plane block in PCNL. This observational study included 67 consecutive cases (16-65 years, ASA grade I-II) divided into 2 groups. Group A (n=33) received subcostal transversus abdominis plane (SCTAP) block and Group B (n=34) received erector spinae plane block (ESPB). Post operative pain in terms of pain scores, opioid consumption, requirement of rescue analgesic in first 24 hours was noted. Quality of recovery and any adverse events were also noted. Post-operative opioid consumption was significantly less in ESPB group (34.41 ± 27.32 mcg), compared to SCTAP Group (270.91 ± 121.41 mcg). Group B patients had better post operative quality of recovery compared to Group A patients. VAS pain scores at almost all time-points were lower in the ESPB group. ESPB provided effective postoperative analgesia and reduced fentanyl consumption postoperatively compared to SCTAP block.

A Nanocapsule System Combats Aging by Inhibiting Age-Related Angiogenesis Deficiency and Glucolipid Metabolism Disorders.

Insufficient angiogenic stimulation and dysregulated glycolipid metabolism in senescent vascular endothelial cells (VECs) constitute crucial features of vascular aging. Concomitantly, the generation of excess senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and active immune-inflammatory responses propagates within injured vessels, tissues, and organs. Until now, targeted therapies that efficiently rectify phenotypic abnormalities in senescent VECs have still been lacking. Here, we constructed a Pd/hCeO2-BMS309403@platelet membrane (PCBP) nanoheterostructured capsule system loaded with fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) inhibitors and modified with platelet membranes and investigated its therapeutic role in aged mice. PCBP showed significant maintenance in aged organs and demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. Through cyclic tail vein administration, PCBP extended the lifespan and steadily ameliorated abnormal phenotypes in aged mice, including SASP production, immune and inflammatory status, and age-related metabolic disorders. In senescent ECs, PCBP mediated the activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling and glycolysis and inhibition of FABP4 by inducing the synthesis of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, thereby reawakening neovascularization and restoring glycolipid metabolic homeostasis. In conclusion, the PCBP nanocapsule system provides a promising avenue for interventions against aging-induced dysfunction.

Opium tincture has anti-propulsive effects in patients with chronic diarrhea: a randomized, placebo-controlled, and cross-over trial

Objective Chronic diarrhea affects approximately 5% of the population. Opioids inhibit gastrointestinal motility, and opium tincture has shown anti-propulsive effects in healthy, but no controlled studies of its clinical efficacy exist. We aimed to investigate the anti-propulsive and central nervous system (CNS) effects of opium tincture in patients with chronic diarrhea. Materials and methods The study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial in subjects with chronic diarrhea refractory to standard treatment. Participants received opium tincture or placebo during two intervention periods, each lasting seven days. Bowel movements were recorded daily, and gastrointestinal transit time was investigated with the wireless motility capsule system. Gastrointestinal symptoms, health-related quality of life, and CNS effects (pupil size, reaction time, memory, and general cognition) were also investigated, along with signs of addiction. Results Eleven subjects (mean age: 45 ± 17 years, 46% males) with a median of 4.7 daily bowel movements were included. The number of daily bowel movements was reduced during opium tincture treatment to 2.3 (p = 0.045), but not placebo (3.0, p = 0.09). Opium tincture prolonged the colonic transit time compared to placebo (17 h vs. 12 h, p < 0.001). In both treatment arms, there were no changes in self-reported gastrointestinal symptoms, health-related quality of life, or CNS effects, and no indication of addiction was present. Conclusion Opium tincture induced anti-propulsive effects in patients with chronic diarrhea refractory to standard treatment. This indicates that opium tincture is a relevant treatment strategy for selected patients with chronic diarrhea. Moreover, no evidence of opioid-induced sedation or addiction was found. Trial Registration Number: NCT05690321 (registered 2023-01-10)

Reconstructed Mid-Face Lifting After Tissue Expansion by Suspending the Expander Capsule.

An obvious saggy tendency was observed in the expanded flaps from mid-facial reconstruction and resulted in an unsatisfactory postoperative cosmetic outcome. At the time of this writing, the authors introduced a novel technique of mid-face lifting to correct the phenomenon by suspending the expander capsule. From September 2018 to August 2023, 11 patients who had undergone our mid-face lifting technique were enrolled in our study. The expanded flap was divided into 2 layers during the surgical procedure. The upper layer, which consists of the skin and the subcutaneous layer, was lifted, and the lower layer, consisting of the expander capsule and SMAS system, was left at the base. Then a capsular flap was lifted from the base and folded upward to lift the reconstructed mid-face. The capsular flap was fixed in the temporal or mastoid region when the saggy tendency was corrected, and the mid-facial contour became symmetric. Finally, the upper layer was trimmed and fixed at the base. Facial movements were restricted after the surgery. The saggy tendency of all the expanded flaps was corrected, and the mid-facial symmetry was rebuilt immediately after the surgery. The effect were long-lasting at 3 months to 2 years of follow-ups. No serious postoperative complications occurred. The patients or their legal guardians were satisfied with the esthetic improvement. Reconstructed mid-face lifting with capsular flap was an effective and reliable way to correct the saggy tendency of a mid-facial expanded flap and rebuilt the mid-facial symmetry.

Formulation, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of Mesalamine and Bifidobacterium bifidum Loaded Hydrogel Beads in Capsule System for Colon Targeted Delivery.

Mesalamine is a first-line drug for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, its premature release associated with marketed formulations leads to adverse effects like gastric trouble, vomiting, and diarrhoea. To minimize these side effects, colon-targeted drug delivery is essential. Besides conventional pharmacotherapy, bifidogenic probiotics with anti-inflammatory activity has been reported to elicit a significant impact on the remission of ulcerative colitis. Bifidogenic probiotics being acid-labile necessitate developing a gastro-resistant formulation for enhancing the delivery of viable cells to the colon. The present study was aimed at developing a fixed-dose unit dosage form of mucoadhesive hydrogel beads loaded with mesalamine and Bifidobacterium bifidum further encapsulated in Eudragit® capsules for the targeted drug delivery at colonic pH. The hydrogel beads were prepared by ionotropic gelation, with the effect of single and dual-crosslinking approaches on various formulation characteristics studied. Standard size 00 Eudragit® gastro-resistant capsules were prepared and the dried beads were filled inside the capsule shells. The formulation was then evaluated for various parameters, including physicochemical characterization, in vitro biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory activity. No interaction was observed between the drug and the polymers, as confirmed through FTIR, XRD, and DSC analysis. The mean particle size of the beads was ~ 457-485µm. The optimized formulation showed a drug entrapment efficiency of 95.4 ± 2.58%. The Eudragit® capsule shells disintegrated in approximately 13min at pH 7.4. The mucoadhesive hydrogel beads sustained the drug release above 18h, with 50% of the drug released by the end of 12h. The optimized formulation demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) gastro-resistance, biocompatibility, sustained drug release, cell viability, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Clinical impact of capsule endoscopy on patients with suspected small bowel bleeding: Experience at a highly specialized hospital in Colombia

Introduction and aimsCapsule endoscopy is part of the diagnostic approach to patients with suspected small bowel bleeding and data on its clinical impact are still limited in developing countries. The primary aim of the present study was to determine its impact on subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Material and methodsA retrospective study was conducted that included all the patients that underwent capsule endoscopy with the PillCam™ SB 3 Capsule system due to suspected small bowel bleeding treated at the Hospital Universitario Fundación Valle del Lili between January 2011 and December 2020. ResultsA total of 158 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean patient age was 63 years (interquartile range [IQR], 52-74), 53.6% of the patients were women, and high blood pressure was the most frequent comorbidity (43.7%). The main indication was overt bleeding (58.2%). Of all the capsule endoscopies carried out, 63.9% showed lesions that were potentially responsible for bleeding. Medical or surgical treatment was indicated in 63.3% of the case total. Rebleeding at 6 months occurred in 15 patients and there were 2 deaths due to gastrointestinal bleeding at 6 months. ConclusionsCapsule endoscopy has a high impact on patients with suspected small bowel bleeding, with respect to clinical decision-making, as well as rebleeding, hospitalization, and mortality outcomes. The positivity rate of lesions potentially responsible for bleeding was similar to that reported in developed countries.

Vibro-impact dynamics of an experimental rig with two-sided constraint and bidirectional drift

This paper demonstrates a theoretical and experimental study on a universal vibro-impact system with bidirectional drift. With a dedicated experimental rig that is able to verify numerical simulations, the system has revealed various bifurcations from a piecewise-smooth dynamical model involving impact and dry friction. This experimental rig with a two-sided constraint is designed with adjustable configurations which can be used for experimental testing of versatile piecewise-smooth dynamical systems, e.g., the impact oscillator, the drifting oscillator and the capsule system. It is able to be customised to alter different system parameters, such as friction, number of constraints, mass ratio, impact gap and constraint stiffness, for developing and testing various control strategies. In this paper we particularly studied several types of bifurcations from our preliminary experimental results and discussed the dynamical responses of the system under different excitation frequencies and amplitudes. It was found that with a higher excitation frequency and amplitude, the vibro-impact dynamics on both ends of the constraints could result in a large amount of uncertainties, thus bi-stable and chaotic motions are likely to be observed. While being unstable, the system runs with a relatively high energy efficiency in this configuration.

Dual-Polarized Transparent Antenna and Its Application for Capsule Endoscopy System

In this paper, we proposed a small transparent thin film antenna for a wireless capsule endoscopy system. The transparent thin film antenna is needed to provide a clear 360° broad-sight view of the wireless capsule system in the future. Furthermore, the transparent thin film is critical for performing the dual-polarized antenna operating at 2.45 GHz. The proposed transparent thin film uses the nano-alignment process to further achieve low resistivity from 3.78 × 10−4 Ω-cm to 9.14 × 10−5 Ω-cm and improves the transparency by over 70%. The nano-alignment process includes periodic electrodes with AC signals that can effectively rearrange the nano-material into an ordered arrangement, enhancing the thin film’s microwave characteristics. Due to applying to the capsule endoscopy system, the ability of water resistance is also considered in this design. Therefore, the O2 plasma treatment is used to improve the water contact angle from 76° to 31°, measured on the surface of the thin film. The proposed transparent antenna is designed to have a center frequency of 2.45 GHz, a bandwidth of 855 MHz, and an antenna gain of −26.3 dBi, and is helpful for capsule endoscopy systems.

Impacto clínico de la videocápsula endoscópica en pacientes con sospecha de hemorragia de intestino delgado: experiencia en un hospital de alta complejidad de Colombia

Introduction and aimsCapsule endoscopy is part of the diagnostic approach to patients with suspected small bowel bleeding and data on its clinical impact are still limited in developing countries. The primary aim of the present study was to determine its impact on subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Material and methodsA retrospective study was conducted that included all the patients that underwent capsule endoscopy with the PillCam™ SB 3 Capsule system due to suspected small bowel bleeding treated at the Hospital Universitario Fundación Valle del Lili between January 2011 and December 2020. ResultsA total of 158 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean patient age was 63years (interquartile range [IQR], 52-74), 53.6% of the patients were women, and high blood pressure was the most frequent comorbidity (43.7%). The main indication was overt bleeding (58.2%). Of all the capsule endoscopies carried out, 63.9% showed lesions that were potentially responsible for bleeding. Medical or surgical treatment was indicated in 63.3% of the case total. Rebleeding at 6months occurred in 15 patients and there were 2deaths due to gastrointestinal bleeding at 6months. ConclusionsCapsule endoscopy has a high impact on patients with suspected small bowel bleeding, with respect to clinical decision-making, as well as rebleeding, hospitalization, and mortality outcomes. The positivity rate of lesions potentially responsible for bleeding was similar to that reported in developed countries.

Three-dimensional mapping analysis of a capsule system with bilateral elastic constraints

The three-dimensional mapping of the capsule system with bilateral elastic constraints is studied, which is rarely seen in the literature at present. The bilaterally constrained elastic system is suitable for small-scale capsule models. Compared with the unilaterally constrained elastic capsule system, the bilaterally constrained elastic system has a more complex switching mechanism on the boundary, a larger number of local mappings, and a richer whole motion process and bifurcation. The detailed analysis of the bilaterally constrained elastic capsule models can provide more effective theoretical support for the practical application of small-scale capsule models. In this paper, the local dynamics of non-smooth boundaries caused by dry friction and contact and global dynamics in a bilaterally constrained elastic capsule system are analyzed. By considering the vector fields near the boundary surfaces and boundary lines, we get the switching mechanisms on the boundary surfaces and boundary lines and find all possible local mappings. Under the guidance of theoretical analysis, we obtain the sliding bifurcations and boundary-intersection crossing bifurcations by changing the external excitation amplitude. The numerical simulation shows that the bifurcation points and the change of the motion state before and after the bifurcation are consistent with the theoretical results, indicating that this analysis method can be used to accurately discuss the dynamic behaviors of the bilaterally constrained elastic capsule system and mappings can express the dynamic behaviors.

Shape dynamics of capsules in two phase-shifted orthogonal ultrasonic standing waves: a numerical investigation

This work investigates the time-averaged shape dynamics of a soft elastic capsule in two phase-shifted orthogonal ultrasonic standing waves. The capsule consists of an elastic membrane that encloses a viscous fluid and is immersed in another viscous fluid. Combining the acoustic perturbation theory of fluid dynamics with the thin-shell mechanics of capsule membrane deformation, two sets of equations are established to govern the ultrasonic propagation and the time-averaged response of the fluid–capsule system, respectively. These governing equations are solved numerically based on the finite element method. Numerical simulations show that the ultrasonic standing waves have pure elongation and pure rotation effects on the initially circular capsule when the phase difference is 0 and ${\rm \pi}/2$ , respectively. By setting the phase difference between 0 and ${\rm \pi}/2$ , it is found that the initially circular capsule exhibits a tank-treading motion due to the combined effect of the elongation and rotation. The capsule membrane elasticity and internal fluid viscosity have significant effects on the tank-treading behaviour of the initially circular capsule, including elongation deformation, inclination angle and tank-treading velocity. For the initially non-circular capsule, three types of dynamical states, including stable orientation, swinging and tumbling, are predicted by varying the phase difference and intensity of the ultrasonic standing waves, as well as the initial shape, membrane elasticity and internal fluid viscosity of the initially non-circular capsule. This work enriches the cell manipulation capabilities of ultrasonic standing wave micro-acoustofluidics and may inspire new biological applications.

Bioinspired, ingestible electroceutical capsules for hunger-regulating hormone modulation.

The gut-brain axis, which is mediated via enteric and central neurohormonal signaling, is known to regulate a broad set of physiological functions from feeding to emotional behavior. Various pharmaceuticals and surgical interventions, such as motility agents and bariatric surgery, are used to modulate this axis. Such approaches, however, are associated with off-target effects or post-procedure recovery time and expose patients to substantial risks. Electrical stimulation has also been used to attempt to modulate the gut-brain axis with greater spatial and temporal resolution. Electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, however, has generally required invasive intervention for electrode placement on serosal tissue. Stimulating mucosal tissue remains challenging because of the presence of gastric and intestinal fluid, which can influence the effectiveness of local luminal stimulation. Here, we report the development of a bioinspired ingestible fluid-wicking capsule for active stimulation and hormone modulation (FLASH) capable of rapidly wicking fluid and locally stimulating mucosal tissue, resulting in systemic modulation of an orexigenic GI hormone. Drawing inspiration from Moloch horridus, the "thorny devil" lizard with water-wicking skin, we developed a capsule surface capable of displacing fluid. We characterized the stimulation parameters for modulation of various GI hormones in a porcine model and applied these parameters to an ingestible capsule system. FLASH can be orally administered to modulate GI hormones and is safely excreted with no adverse effects in porcine models. We anticipate that this device could be used to treat metabolic, GI, and neuropsychiatric disorders noninvasively with minimal off-target effects.

Design and Evaluation of Controlled Onset Extended-Release System for Chronotherapeutic Delivery of Aceclofenac

The purpose of this research is to design and test Aceclofenac-containing capsule dosage type, which may be intended for the treatment of early morning stiffness and symptomatic pain relief in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Immediate release tablets were prepared by wet granulation method using crospovidone, SSG, Lycoat, and Ludiflash. Enteric coated Microspheres were prepared using Eudragit L100 and Eudragit R100 by oil-in-oil solvent evaporation method. Both IR tablets and microspheres of aceclofenac have been tested for pre-compression, post-compression and findings find to be appropriate in our trials. Chemical reactions between the drug and the polymeric substance have been tested using FTIR. There was no disparity between the IR patterns of Aceclofenac, the physical mixture of Aceclofenac and polymers. Based on the results obtained IR tablet (AI12) containing Crospovidone as super disintegrant was considered as the optimum powder blend for fabrication of capsule system. Among the enteric coated microspheres AC9 was considered as optimized formulation for colonic drug delivery. As our aim of work is to maintain a chronotherapeutic drug delivery, now we combine the optimized IR tablets and optimized enteric coated microspheres in a single capsule. Based on the drug release studies, it shows drug released up to 20hrs and follows zero order release kinetics with non-ficikian diffusion mechanism.

Numerical analysis of a multistable capsule system under the delayed feedback control with a constant delay

The vibro-impact capsule system is a self-propelled mechanism that has abundant coexisting attractors and moves rectilinearly under periodic excitation when overcoming environmental resistance. In this paper, we study the control of coexisting attractors in this system by using a delayed feedback controller (DFC) with a constant delay. The aim of our control is to steer this complex system toward an attractor with preferable performance characteristics among multiple coexisting attractors, e.g., a periodically fast forward progression. For this purpose, we give an example of a feedback-controlled transition from a period-3 motion with low progression speed to a period-1 motion with high progression speed at the system parameters where both responses coexist. The effectiveness of this controller is investigated numerically by considering its convergence time and the required control energy input to achieve transition. We combine pseudo-spectral approximation of the delay, event detection for the discontinuities and path-following (continuation) techniques for non-smooth delay dynamical systems to carry out bifurcation analysis. We systematically study the dynamical performance of the controlled system when varying its control gain and delay time. Our numerical simulations show the effectiveness of DFC under a wide range of system parameters. We find that the desired period-1 motion is achievable in a range of control delays between a period-doubling and a grazing bifurcation. Therefore, two-parameter continuation of these two bifurcations with respect to the control delay and control gain is conducted to identify the delay-gain parameter region where the period-1 motion is stable. The findings of this work can be used for tuning control parameters in experiments, and similar analysis can be carried out for other non-smooth dynamical systems with a constant delay term.

Duocapsule and alternative shell material to gelatin: Advancement in capsule formulation

Owing to broad advantages like self-medication, unit dosage form, and patient compliance, cost effective, limited interaction with the excipients and possibility of mask the unpleasant taste, capsules are the most extensively recognized conventional solid dosage form after Tablet. In the world of Novel drug delivery system to overcome the disadvantages of conventional delivery system modifications are made in the capsule to develop a product of higher selectivity for medical treatment like the capsules that facilitates the controlled drug delivery, sustained and targeted release profiles with its own benefits as conventional dosage form. The advancement in capsules has led to the formation of different types of capsule formulations such as tablets in capsules, pellets in capsule and the capsule in another capsule, liquid in capsule products and pellets in capsule formulations. This article aims to highlights the advancement in the capsule system, particularly Duocapsules and capsules with capsule shell prepared with alternative shell material to gelatin. The Duo capsule is also called as capsule in capsule formulation as it contains two capsules one with the bigger size containing the smaller sized capsule inside it with different or same formulations in various forms such as liquids, solids, powders, tablets, pellets etc. The article mainly focuses on the different applications, advantages, formulation consideration, and applicable drugs of duo capsules. Considering the challenges invovled in manufacturing the gelatin shell and unstability of in different climatic conditions, the present article also emphasizes on the formulation development in capsule system with alternative polymers to the gelatin like HPMC, starch and PVA copolymer capsule shells.

An intelligent intestinal bleeding diagnosis and treatment capsule system based on color recognition.

To our best knowledge, there are no non-invasive and painless means for the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal bleeding as of now, especially the segment of intestine that cannot be reached by endoscopy. We proposed an intelligent intestinal bleeding diagnosis and treatment capsule (IBDTC) system for the first time to diagnose and treat intestinal bleeding with low power consumption, estimated to be about 2.16mW. A hue-saturation-light (HSL) color space method was applied to diagnose bleeding according to H (hue) values of the film dyed by blood. A MEMS-based micro-igniter works as the critical component of the micro-thruster that houses the propellant (74.6% potassium nitrate, 11.9% sulfur, 13.5% charcoal) and the detonating agent (dinitrodiazophenol), to help release drug. Bleeding detection and ignition tests were performed to justify its feasibility and reliability. Results demonstrated that the bleeding diagnosis module of the IBDTC can effectively detect bleeding and the micro-igniter can successfully ignite the propellant. Owing to its simplicity and intelligence, the IBDTC system will pave a way for future accurate treatment of small intestinal bleeding with no injury, no pain, no complicated supporting equipment, no need for in vitro operation and positioning.

Clinical utility of colon capsule endoscopy: a moving target?

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of white light colon capsule endoscopy's current clinical application, concentrating on its most recent developments. Second-generation colon capsule endoscopy (CCE2) is approved by the FDA for use as an adjunctive test in patients with incomplete colonoscopy and within Europe in patients at average risk, those with incomplete colonoscopies or those unwilling to undergo conventional colonoscopies. Since the publication of European Society of GI Endoscopy guidelines on the use of CCE, there has been a significant increase in comparative studies on the diagnostic yield of CCE. This paper discusses CCE2 in further detail. It explains newly developed colon capsule system and the current status on the use of CCE, it also provides a comprehensive summary of systematic reviews on the implementation of CCE in colorectal cancer screening from a methodological perspective. Patients with ulcerative colitis can benefit from CCE2 in terms of assessing mucosal inflammation. As part of this review, performance of CCE2 for assessing disease severity in ulcerative colitis is compared with colonoscopy. Finally, an assessment if CCE can become a cost-effective clinical service overall.

Analog Backscatter Video Transmission for Wireless Capsule Endoscope

Wireless capsule endoscopy is a fast-growing technology in healthcare systems. Due to using battery for powering the camera, light source, wireless communication, and other electronics, it has substantial limitations with the image quality, frame rate, and operating time. In this work, we propose a wireless passive video transmission system for capsule endoscopy, in which the power consumption is reduced by using analog camera sensor, and implementing an innovative radar technique for remote reading of the analog video signal using radio frequency backscattering. The power consumption of the capsule communication system tends to zero. The communication electronics system is minimized to a single Varactor diode with appropriate matching circuits and the image sensor power consumption is reduced by eliminating the camera sensor’s analog to digital converter. With these improvements the capsule system can operate for a longer period of time which enables the feasibility of continuous video streaming during the gastric tract screening. The design feasibility is demonstrated in a phantom experiment, and validated in an animal experiment for depths 6–11 cm using a bi-static radar system at 400 MHz, implemented using software defined radio platform.