The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a pill camera which will be used for colon screening, Omaha reports.
U.S regulators have cleared a bite-size camera to help screen patients suffering from colon cancer. The ingestible pill camera created by Given Imaging is designed to help doctors spot polyps and other early signs of colon cancer. The FDA approved the device on Monday for use among patients who have had trouble with other forms of colonoscopy that made use of various tiny cameras cameras embedded in a four-foot long tube. Pill camera was previously approved in other countries including Japan, Europe and Latin America.
Developed from missile defense system's, the new technology uses a battery-powered camera that can take high-speed images as it slowly moves its way through the intestinal tract over a span of eight hours. The images taken are then transported to a recording device worn around the patient's waist and is later reviewed by a doctor. The FDA estimates 750,000 US patients are unable to complete colonoscopy procedures each year due to anatomy issues, previous surgery or various colon diseases.
"Given's management understands that the traditional colonoscopy is the gastroenterologist's bread and butter right now," said MorningStar analyst Debbie Wang. "So they didn't want to do anything that could position this as a substitute." Wang claims that Given's PillCam costs approximately $500, which is much cheaper compared to a colonoscopy procedure that costs $4000. However, she believes that later on, doctors may use the device to attract adults who avoid regular screening due to fear of pain, embarrassment and general discomfort.
