Small intestinal model for electrically propelled capsule endoscopy.

The aim of this research is to propose a small intestine model for electrically propelled capsule endoscopy. The electrical stimulus can cause contraction of the small intestine and propel the capsule along the lumen. The proposed model considered the drag and friction from the small intestine using a thin walled model and Stokes' drag equation.

Duodenum identification mechanism for capsule endoscopy.

The aim of this study is to implement a duodenum identification mechanism for capsule endoscopes because commercially available capsule endoscopes sometimes present a false negative diagnosis of the duodenum. One reason for the false negative diagnosis is that the duodenum is the fastest moving part within the gastrointestinal tract and the current frame rate of the capsule is not fast enough. When the capsule can automatically identify that it is in the duodenum, the frame rate of the capsule can be temporarily increased to reduce the possibility of a false negative diagnosis.

Optoelectronic stimulation of the brain using carbon nanotubes.

This paper presents the simulation results of a novel technique to stimulate the brain using a carbon nanotubes (CNT) based optically activated stimulator. This technique could be a promising alternative solution to overcome the limitations occurring in the conventional electrical stimulation of the brain and the newly developed opto-genetic stimulation. In this technique, the CNT stimulator, which generated an electrical current when exposed to light, was implanted in the brain.

Stopping mechanism for capsule endoscope using electrical stimulus.

An ingestible capsule, which has the ability to stop at certain locations in the small intestine, was designed and implemented to monitor intestinal diseases. The proposed capsule can contract the small intestine by using electrical stimuli; this contraction causes the capsule to stop when the maximum static frictional force (MSFF) is larger than the force of natural peristalsis. In vitro experiments were carried out to verify the feasibility of the capsule, and the results showed that the capsule was successfully stopped in the small intestine.

Implemented edge shape of an electrical stimulus capsule.

Background: Recently, a capsule endoscope has been developed and many researchers have been trying to develop locomotive capsules. To develop locomotive capsules, the inner volume of the capsule has to be large enough to insert actuators, and the edge shape of the exterior capsule has to be suitable for locomotion. There are many locomotional methods, but an electrical stimulus method provides the appropriate power consumption, plus the shape of the capsule is the same as general telemetry capsules.