Kids Web Japan

What is a capsule endoscope?

It's a machine that allows doctors to check for problems in the small intestine, which is very hard to examine with other medical devices. The patient swallows the capsule, which then moves through the digestive tract. The endoscope is very small thanks to micro-machine technology.

What are micro machines?

Micro machines include mechanical technology, electric circuits, and other cutting-edge technologies in an ultra-small body. They are also known as MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) or MST (microsystem technologies). Because they are so sophisticated yet so tiny, they are set to be used in all kinds of fields in the future.

A capsule endoscope takes two images inside the body each second. What happens to this data?

The capsule endoscope has been on sale in Europe since October 2005.

Courtesy of Olympus Corporation

(Updated in August 2007)