You've taken pills to treat lots of ailments, but have you ever popped a pill to check your vital signs?
This might sound like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie, but it turns out that the future is now. Celero Systems is working on a small swallowable pill that can measure someone's vital signs inside and out.
How does it work? Built-in sensors in the pill can measure the movement of the stomach, which in turn can be used to gather data about breathing patterns. Further, sensors can also monitor micromovements in blood vessels, thus allowing the pill to track cardiovascular activity.
What might such pills be used for? One promising application is diagnosing and understanding sleep apnea. Currently, patients looking to treat sleep apnea must often stay overnight in sleep clinics where medical professionals can monitor them. There are some at-home tests available, but they cost hundreds of dollars and can be difficult to administer. Soon, sleep apnea patients may be able to skip all the hassles and simply swallow a pill.
The pill might also be able to assess and monitor asthma, vagal atrial fibrillation (a cardiac disorder), neuromuscular disorders, and even drug overdoses, among other things. The pill is especially convenient because patients only need to swallow it and let it work. By contrast, medications and external measurement equipment are often a hassle and patients can forget or fail to follow directions.
Celero System's pill is part of an emerging "ingestibles" industry. Medical technology companies have been developing diagnostic tools and other applications that can be swallowed. This could cut down on the need for invasive procedures, including surgeries and endoscopes.