A prototype design of wireless capsule endoscope

Diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as intestinal bleeding and ulcer, are very common. In order to determine the location of the disease, as well as to diagnose the problem, endoscopy test is performed. A wireless capsule endoscope is a pill-sized device for the patient to swallow. It equips with a camera and a wireless transmitter so that as it travels through the patient's GI tract, it take pictures or video of the tract and transmit the information out of the patient body wirelessly. This paper discusses the possible solutions and challenges of the wireless capsule endoscope, in terms of the choice of wireless frequency and circuit components. A prototype is built with commercially available components to demonstrate the concept of the device.