Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter Thirteen
Wireless Active Capsule Endoscope:
State-of-the-Art and Challenges
Xiaona Wang and Max Q.-H. Meng
Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
This chapter introduces the state-of-the-art wireless capsule endoscopy in terms of
commercially available products and prototypes currently under development in
research labs worldwide. Challenges facing us in designing and manufacturing
active wireless capsule endoscopes are outlined, together with potential methods
to tackle them.
13.1 INTRODUCTION
Gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, such as stomach and colon cancers and ulcerative
colitis, is one of the most common diseases in human body. According to recent
statistics of the Hong Kong Cancer Registry in November 2008, the GI cancer rate is
getting higher and higher each year since 1983 and the average age of the patients
is getting younger. In 2006, 4, 936 individuals newly developed cancers in the
colorectum and stomach, which were among 10 most common cancers (Cancer
statstics). The GI cancer rate and death rate are approaching that of the lung cancer,
which is currently ranked the No. 1 killer.
Most GI cancers can be cured in the early stage. Regular checkup is an effective
way to reduce the occurrence and mortality. There are several methods to detect
diseases of GI tract without applying intrusive devices into the human body, such
as stool test, double-contrast barium enema and more recently genetic analysis
just among many others. However, conventional GI endoscopy is irreplaceable
because it enables diagnosis based on analysis of real images and biopsy samples.
Many research institutions and industries have embarked on the effort to improve
conventional GI endoscopy procedures. Phee et al.
(2002) presented thorough
surveys of the related results.
 
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