Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University researchers have developed gas-sensing capsules that send data from inside the gut directly to a mobile device. To measure the concentration of selected intestinal gases, the capsule includes a built-in gas sensor, microprocessor, and wireless high-frequency transmitter.
“Being able to accurately measure intestinal gases could accelerate our knowledge about how specific gut microorganisms contribute to gastrointestinal disorders and food intake efficiency, enabling the development of new diagnostic techniques and treatments," said lead investigator and RMIT professor Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh.
Animal trials have demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of the capsules, which transmit data as they move through the gut to a handheld device, such as a smartphone, before passing out of the body.
The non-invasive technology could lead to new point-of-care diagnostics and diet- or drug-based therapies for gastrointestinal diseases.
