Description:
Background
Gastrointestinal disorders are closely tied to spatially varying gas concentrations (e.g., O₂, NH₃, H₂, CH₄) in the gut. However, existing diagnostic methods, lack the ability to noninvasively and/or continuously monitor region-specific gas levels. Ingestible capsules are a promising solution but still require imaging equipment that come with similar drawbacks. Therefore, there is a need for approaches that improve the localization accuracy of ingestible devices, without being limited to a hospital setting.
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USC researchers have developed a wearable localization platform and ingestible gas sensing pill. The pill houses gas sensors, alongside a magnetic‐field sensor, microcontroller and wireless transceiver. A set of wearable coils generate distinct magnetic field gradients, which can be detected by the pill. Data from the capsule are wirelessly transmitted to a mobile device and processed to determine its position. Tests in bench stomach models verified millimeter‐scale localization accuracy and reliable gas profiling, and the modular sensor architecture supports extension to other analytes or payload delivery. The platform provides a patient-friendly solution for monitoring gastrointestinal health from the comfort of their own home.
Advantages
- Enables continuous, real-time measurement of gas concentrations in non-hospital settings
- Wearable sensor eliminates the need for costly imaging modalities and invasive procedures
- Modular system is compatible with different types of sensors
Stage of Development
- Prototype developed and tested in ex vivo human gut models
Publications