The World's First Self-Propelled Endoscopy Device 'Swims' the Entire Digestive Tract in Mere Hours

PopSci ^ | June 22, 2011 | Clay Dillow

[PJ-Comix]

Probing colons has never been this much fun. Japanese researchers have developed the world’s first self-propelled endoscopy device, a remote controlled tadpole-like camera that can “swim” through the digestive tack gathering imagery along the way.

This kind of endoscopy isn’t wholly new, of course, but previous iterations of ingestible cameras relied on natural muscle contractions to move them through the body. The “Mermaid,” as it is known, simplifies the process by moving quickly through the digestive tract to its destination, whatever that point may be. To speed the process, it can be inserted into the digestive system at either end, entering the body orally or--well, you know.

The device is just 0.4 inches in diameter and just shy of two inches long, and uses magnetic machinery to control its movement and location. Doctors pilot the endoscope with a joystick, watching its progress on a monitor. All said, it takes only a few hours to traverse the whole system from esophagus to colon. It could help ease the strain on patients and detect hard-to-see cancers earlier than was previously possible.

[PJ-Comix]

Unless Raquel Welch is aboard, I don't consider this a valid device.

[Para-Ord.45]

Paging Richard Gere

[LibFreeOrDie]

Lemmiwinks can retire now!

[cripplecreek]

Hamster with a camcorder.

[PJ-Comix]

LOL! I still have the Lemmiwinks song in my head.

[Sacajaweau]

Sounds like one of those little tin windup toys we had when I was a kid. Up yours!!

[Army Air Corps]

To boldly go where no mini-cam has gone before!

[Navy Patriot]

If they make a left hand model, we can retrieve a lot Special forces, Marine, and Navy Seal boots.

[JRandomFreeper]

Sorry, Doc, the answer is still no. Gotta die of something, and I'm ok with that. I am NOT ok with stuff going into the Exit-Only orifice.

/johnny

[6SJ7]

Doctors pilot the endoscope with a joystick, watching its progress on a monitor.

Might be fun for the doctor. Not so much for the patient.

[count-your-change]

That’s nothing...my cooking will pass through the entire track within minutes.....some even returns home before the journey is finished!

[PAR35]

Always ask before swallowing, ‘how was it administered to the previous user?’

[lurk]

It’s been done.

In the Matrix, they inserted it through the navel.

[Husker24]

Ive had McDonalds go through my entire digestive tract before I was even finished with the fries.

[MV=PY]

ROTFLMYO!

[Liberty1970]

The “Mermaid,” as it is known, simplifies the process by moving quickly through the digestive tract to its destination, whatever that point may be.

Gosh. I didn't know there was ambiguity on that point.

[Liberty1970]

Actually, now that I think about it, that might explain a few things about news media, lawyers and politicians. (”It came out WHERE?!?”)

[count-your-change]

Now you know what the “fast” in fast food means!

[chris_bdba]

Let’s hope they keep some reserved for each end?

[rabidralph]

I hope they use fresh batteries each time.