AI Monitoring of GI Tract Health with Wearable Digital Pill - Health

Advancements in Medical Technology

Recent technological advancements have enabled the development of new cutting-edge medical devices, including surgical robots, sensors that can monitor physiological processes and VR platforms to train doctors. A long-standing goal for medical technology engineers is to also create devices that can be ingested or otherwise inserted within the human body to observe or track the activity of specific organs. The ability to record high-quality electrophysiology data from the gastrointestinal tract and enteric nervous system is of use in understanding a variety of disorders and improving health care via early diagnosis.

The enteric nervous system (ENS), one of the three key divisions of the autonomic nervous system, is comprised of millions of neurons and cells regulating the secretion of hormones in the gastrointestinal tract. Reliably tracking the electrical signaling of cells in the gastrointestinal track could help doctors to diagnose various disorders, better understand their underpinnings and devise personalized treatment strategies. The device developed by the team consists of an electronic module and various flexible measurement electrodes, contained inside a 3D-printed case that looks like a capsule or pill.

Artificial Intelligence in Monitoring GI Tract Health

Scientists at the University of Southern California have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered system to track tiny devices that monitor markers of disease in the gut. Devices using the novel system may help at-risk individuals monitor their gastrointestinal (GI) tract health at home, without the need for invasive tests in hospital settings. Gas that is formed in the intestines when bacteria break down food can offer insights into a persons health. An AI-enabled ingestible pill for localization and assessing stomach gas profiles in 3D has been developed by researchers at USC.

An AI analyzes the signals the pill receives, pinpointing where the device is located in the gut within less than a few millimeters. The system monitors 3D real-time concentrations of ammonia, a proxy for a bacteria linked with ulcers and gastric cancer, via the devices optical gas-sensing membranes. The technology may also have other applications beyond measuring GI tract gases, such as identifying inflammation in the gut caused by Crohn’s disease and delivering drugs to precisely these regions.

Future Prospects of Ingestible Devices

The device developed by the team at USC aims to empower patients to conveniently assess their GI gas profiles from home and manage digestive health. Next, as they continue to hone the device, researchers plan to test it in pigs to study its safety and effectiveness in an organism with human-like biology. Successful outcomes from these trials will bring the device nearer to readiness for human clinical trials. The practicality of the system is optimistic and believed to be soon applicable for use in humans.

Overall, these advancements in medical technology and artificial intelligence are paving the way for more personalized and non-invasive methods of monitoring and diagnosing disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The integration of wearable technology and AI in healthcare is revolutionizing the field of medicine and opening new avenues for research and treatment strategies.