Ingestible capsule to diagnose gut disorders

Melbourne, Aug. 2: Scientists have developed a swallowable sensor which is 3,000 times more accurate than current technology used to diagnose many gut disorders.

The “revolutionary” gas- sensing capsule developed by researchers at RMIT University in Australia, could surpass breath testing as the benchmark for diagnosing gut disorders.

This could pave the way to solving previously undiagnosed conditions, according to the study published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

The vitamin pill- sized capsule provides real time detection and measurement of hydrogen, carbon dioxides and oxygen in the gut. This data can be sent to a mobile phone.

A human trial revealed information about gas production in the gut previously masked when measured indirectly through the breath, said RMIT's Kyle Berean, the co- inventor of the capsule.

“The rate of false positive and false negative diagnosis that breath tests give is a real problem in gastroenterology,” Berean said.

“Being able to measure these biomarkers at concentrations over 3,000 times greater than breath tests is quite astonishing,” said Berean.

This test is non- invasive and allows the patient to continue with their daily life, the researchers said.

Intestinal gases are used to diagnose disorders including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and carbohydrate malabsorption.