Small bowel biopsy by remote control: experimental study on dogs

Telemetry has been used for 30 years in medicine because it requires no link between patients and apparatus. To take advantage of this, we have developed a multipurpose intestinal capsule for the small bowel, with interchangeable tips triggered by remote control. A new tip, performing small bowel mucosal biopsy by remote control is presented. The location of the capsule is radiotransmitted by means of a cogwheel, which is rotated by contact with the intestinal wall. At the chosen site (ie, a number of centimeters from the pylorus), the remote control is activated and the mucosal biopsy is performed through a suction port and kept inside the tip. The capsule then passes throughout the bowel and is recovered in the stool to allow examination of the biopsies. The results of 24 studies on a dog (crossing of the pylorus, length, transit time, velocity) are analyzed to validate the method. Biopsies were accomplished in the stomach, the small bowel (ileum), and the colon. The device failed two times, but no complications occurred. Biopsies, with average surfaces were 6mm2, never penetrated the longitudinal muscular layer. The system is precise to within 3 cm, efficient, reliable, noninvasive, and causes minimal discomfort during investigation.