Information for the public

The procedure

The procedure

The aim of the wireless capsule is to measure gastrointestinal motility, including the amount of time it takes for food to pass through the different parts of the digestive system. It does this by measuring different things, such as temperature and pressure.

Before the procedure, you will need to not eat or drink for several hours. You will then eat a meal replacement before swallowing the single use capsule. While it is in the body, the capsule sends information about bowel contents, pressure, temperature and pH as it travels through the digestive system. This information is collected by a portable receiver which you wear. You can record meals, sleep and bowel movements by pushing an event button on the receiver. The capsule is passed out of the body with a bowel movement. If the capsule is not seen in the stool, then an abrupt temperature drop on the recording information confirms that it has passed out of the body.

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