Retained wireless video enteroscopy capsule: a case report and review of the literature

Capsule enteroscopy, which is a wireless noninvasive approach to evaluation of the small intestine, consists of an 11 x 26-mm capsule containing a miniature video camera, batteries, illuminating light-emitting diodes, a transmitter, and an antenna. The components inside the capsule are encased by a slippery, nonbiodegradable, plastic housing, which weighs less than 4 g. Information obtained from the imager, approximately 2 frames per second, is transmitted by way of radiotelemetry to an array of sensors taped to the abdomen, which connect to a data recorder worn on a belt around the waist. The batteries are designed to last roughly 7-8 hours, providing enough energy to generate approximately 50,000 to 60,000 detailed images. The clinical review of the imagery is made available after completion of the study when images are downloaded from the data recorder to a computer with dedicated software.