A new device the size of a pill, capable of safely monitoring life-saving vital signs from within the stomach, has successfully passed its first human trials. The device is designed to monitor vital signs such as breathing and heart rate from inside the body and transmit data to an external device like a laptop. Scientists say the capsule has the potential to provide life-saving care for individuals at risk of opioid overdoses. The team also hopes that the new device can assist people suffering from other health issues, such as sleep disorders.
Lead author Professor Giovanni Traverso, a gastroenterologist, stated, "The stomach generally provides some of the best signals, mainly because it is close to the heart and lungs. The ability to facilitate the diagnosis and monitoring of many conditions without the need to go to the hospital can provide patients with easier access to healthcare and support treatment."
**Capsule Testing**
- Researchers placed the device in the stomachs of pigs under anesthesia.
- The team administered a dose of fentanyl to the pigs, causing them to stop breathing.
- The device measured the breathing rate and alerted researchers when the animals ceased to breathe.
- The team then tested the device on humans for the first time by giving the capsule to ten people suffering from sleep apnea.
- The patients showed no negative effects as a result of swallowing the capsule, which passed through their digestive systems unnoticed.
- Compared to external vital sign monitoring devices, the capsule can accurately monitor heart rates at no less than 96 percent.
- The trial also demonstrated that the device is safe, as all participants excreted the device in their stool a few days after the trial.
