Innovation of a Smart Capsule to Diagnose Esophageal Cancer Without Surgery

Researchers have successfully developed an advanced medical capsule designed for the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer, potentially paving the way to eliminate the need for traditional biopsies and complex surgical procedures.

According to Nature Biomedical Engineering, the new capsule is notable for its small size — with a diameter of just 12.5 mm — making it easy to swallow and retrieve after completing internal imaging.

Despite its tiny dimensions, it is equipped with cutting-edge imaging technologies, most notably Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), which provides highly detailed visualization of the esophageal mucosal structure at the micrometer level, as well as microscopic photoacoustic imaging, used to create a detailed map of blood vessels within the esophageal tissue up to a depth of 1.5 mm, based on the way hemoglobin absorbs light.

The capsule captures images in a full 360° rotation, enabling a comprehensive and precise scan of the esophageal lining.

Test results showed that the capsule can effectively differentiate between healthy tissue, tissue changes, dysplasia, and early stages of esophageal cancer, with an accuracy rate of up to 91%.

The development team believes this technology could represent a groundbreaking alternative to the traditional, often painful methods of diagnosing esophageal cancer. However, they emphasize the need for further clinical trials before it can be widely adopted, noting that it could be used without requiring patient anesthesia.