Infrared Fluorescence-Based Cancer Screening Capsule for the Small Intestine

Infrared fluorescence endoscopy (IRFE), in conjunction with an infrared fluorescent-labelling contrast agent, is a well known technique used for efficient early-stage cancer detection. In this paper we present a cost-effective (< $500) screening capsule prototype, which is able to detect infrared (IR) fluorescence emitted by indocyanine green (ICG) fluorophore dye. Rather than image, the capsule works as a high-sensitivity fluorometer that records fluorescence levels throughout the small intestine. The presented mixed-signal system has a small size, consumes very little power (≈ 6.3 mA) and does not require an external belt and hardware for data collection. By determining fluorescence levels in the intestine, rather than collecting images, we avoid the need for labour intensive video analysis. The whole system is contained within a compact ingestible capsule, that is sized so as to come into close contact with the intestine walls during peristalsis. Ex-vivo experiments, on ICG-impregnated swine intestine, have shown that the prototype system is able to detect low concentrations of ICG in the nanomolar and micromolar region, which is required to detect early cancer in the small intestine.