Newest Endoscopy Pillcam Offers Telehealth Option

The latest version of the PillCam capsule endoscope enables patients to receive gastrointestinal (GI) care in the comfort of their own home.

The Medtronic (Dublin, Ireland) PillCam SB3 @HOME is the latest iteration of PillCam video endoscopy, which has been used for more than 20 years as a patient-friendly option for minimally invasive detection of lower GI tract diseases. PillCam SB3 @HOME provides a remote telehealth option for direct visualization and monitoring of the small bowel, by combining PillCam technology with Amazon (Seattle, WA, USA) logistics in order to ensure timely and accurate results.

The PillCam SB3 @HOME kit is delivered directly to the patient; through a telehealth appointment, a healthcare provider guides the patient through the remote procedure. Over the course of the eight-hour examination, the PillCam SB3 capsule transmits approximately 50,000 images. The images are securely transferred to the cloud, where they can be accessed by a gastroenterologist. The patient returns the data recorder and sensor belt to Medtronic once the procedure is complete.

“PillCam SB3 @HOME offers a convenient option for a contactless procedure and helps ensure that patients can access care in a timely manner,” said Giovanni Di Napoli, president of the GI business at Medtronic. “The pandemic necessitated more remote innovation, and our capabilities have exceeded expectations to provide better quality care to patients without the risk of COVID infection, and without adding to the burden on the medical staff.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of early detection and not delaying care following the onset of symptoms,” said GI Specialist Michael Bass, MD, of Newark (DE, USA). “Early diagnosis and treatment are key to achieving the best outcome for GI patients. This system allows for patients to remain in the comfort and safety of their own home while giving providers access to the high-quality images needed to make a diagnosis.”

The PillCam SB3 capsule visualizes and monitors small bowel abnormalities associated with Crohn's disease (CD), iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and obscure gastroitenstinal bleeding (OGIB). The PillCam measures 11 x 26 mm, weighs less than four grams, and contains an imaging device and light source that transmit images of the mucosa at a rate between two and six images per second, providing an accurate, patient-friendly tool for patients two years and older to visualize the SB.

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