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The World's First Self-Propelled Endoscopy Device 'Swims' the Entire Digestive Tract in Mere Hours
PopSci ^
| June 22, 2011
| Clay Dillow
Posted on 06/23/2011 5:25:01 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
Probing colons has never been this much fun. Japanese researchers have developed the worlds 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 isnt 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.
TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: colon; endoscopy; fantasticvoyage; gerbildrone; intestines
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Unless Raquel Welch is aboard, I don't consider this a valid device.
1
posted on
06/23/2011 5:25:04 PM PDT
by
PJ-Comix
To: PJ-Comix
To: PJ-Comix
Lemmiwinks can retire now!
3
posted on
06/23/2011 5:29:10 PM PDT
by
LibFreeOrDie
(Obama promised a gold mine, but will give us the shaft.)
To: Para-Ord.45
Hamster with a camcorder.
4
posted on
06/23/2011 5:29:41 PM PDT
by
cripplecreek
(Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
To: LibFreeOrDie
LOL! I still have the Lemmiwinks song in my head.
5
posted on
06/23/2011 5:30:20 PM PDT
by
PJ-Comix
To: LibFreeOrDie
Sounds like one of those little tin windup toys we had when I was a kid. Up yours!!
To: PJ-Comix
To boldly go where no mini-cam has gone before!
7
posted on
06/23/2011 5:32:21 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(Four fried chickens and a coke)
To: PJ-Comix
If they make a left hand model, we can retrieve a lot Special forces, Marine, and Navy Seal boots.
8
posted on
06/23/2011 5:33:19 PM PDT
by
Navy Patriot
(Holy flippin' crap, Sarah rocks the world!)
To: PJ-Comix
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
To: PJ-Comix
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.
10
posted on
06/23/2011 5:44:14 PM PDT
by
6SJ7
(atlasShruggedInd = TRUE)
To: PJ-Comix
That’s nothing...my cooking will pass through the entire track within minutes.....some even returns home before the journey is finished!
11
posted on
06/23/2011 5:48:19 PM PDT
by
count-your-change
(You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
To: PJ-Comix
Always ask before swallowing, ‘how was it administered to the previous user?’
12
posted on
06/23/2011 5:54:21 PM PDT
by
PAR35
To: PJ-Comix
It’s been done.
In the Matrix, they inserted it through the navel.
13
posted on
06/23/2011 5:59:07 PM PDT
by
lurk
To: count-your-change
Ive had McDonalds go through my entire digestive tract before I was even finished with the fries.
14
posted on
06/23/2011 6:06:08 PM PDT
by
Husker24
To: count-your-change
15
posted on
06/23/2011 6:12:44 PM PDT
by
MV=PY
(The Magic Question: Who's paying for it?)
To: PJ-Comix
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.
16
posted on
06/23/2011 6:13:06 PM PDT
by
Liberty1970
(For by grace are you saved through faith.)
To: Liberty1970
Actually, now that I think about it, that might explain a few things about news media, lawyers and politicians. (”It came out WHERE?!?”)
17
posted on
06/23/2011 6:14:17 PM PDT
by
Liberty1970
(For by grace are you saved through faith.)
To: Husker24
Now you know what the “fast” in fast food means!
18
posted on
06/23/2011 6:55:28 PM PDT
by
count-your-change
(You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
To: PAR35
Let’s hope they keep some reserved for each end?
To: PJ-Comix
I hope they use fresh batteries each time.
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