Remote-Controlled Endoscopic Pill Swims Through the Digestive Tract

A self-propelled remote controlled capsule endoscope swims through the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract propelled by its tail fin, taking pictures along the way.

Developed by researchers at Ryukoku University (Kyoto, Japan) and Osaka Medical College (Japan), the Mermaid, as the device is called, is a one centimeter wide, 4.5 centimeters long capsule with a tail fin-like magnetic driving gear that allows it to swim through the digestive tract. It is controlled using a joystick, and can be swallowed or inserted rectally. The Mermaid can examine the entire length of the human digestive system from the esophagus to the colon in a few hours, taking two still camera shots per second. The integrated battery for the endoscope’s camera lasts between 8-10 hours, and the device can move at speeds of up to tens of centimeters per second when immersed in water.


The capsule was first tested inside a dog’s stomach in 2009, and a smaller version of it is currently being tested in humans. According to the press release, the driving gear is powered by an electromagnet, although it is unclear as yet whether this implicates that the device actually contains the complete propagation mechanism itself powered by an external power source, or if it makes use of external magnets for navigation purposes, such as in the Given Imaging (Yokneam, Israel) Pillcam. Doctors use a joystick to control the capsule's movements, watching them on a monitor screen.

“By remotely controlling the capsule, we can precisely photograph the area which needs to be tested,” said developer Professor Kazuhide Higuchi, MD, PhD, of Osaka Medical College. “It can examine the digestive canal from the esophagus to the colon in a few hours. It reduces burdens on patients and can lead to the discovery of cancer.”

Related Links:
Ryukoku University
Osaka Medical College
Given Imaging