Philips develops intelligent pill for treatment on the spot

Philips has developed a smart pill, the medication directly to disease-free sets. Over a pH sensor, the probe finds body in which it is located.

Cameras, the patient swallowed and the images from inside his body supply, has been around for several years. Philips has now developed a system diseases treated on the spot.

Smart Pill, iPill, the developers have their approximately 1 x 2.5 inches wide probe baptized. In addition to a tank in which they transported drugs, it contains a processor that controls a pump, a battery of silver-based sensors as well as the pH and temperature. Using a radio chip, the probe with a computer outside the body to communicate,

The journey of iPill by the patient's body begins quite conventionally, by the patient they herunterschluckt. The natural way they are now moving through the digestive tract. As navigation system used the pill the pH of the environment: In the acidic environment of the stomach, it is low, but rising steadily in the intestine. The pH values in the small intestine and colon also differ from each other, so that the probe of the pH sensor knows in which organ it is located. This allows the pump, where the medication is the right place to release. This can happen in one fell swoop, permanently during the whole journey through the body or to different predetermined positions. For the control of the microprocessor is responsible.

About the radio chip sends iPill also like the temperature data from the innards of a computer. This in turn can turn the probe further control orders. The electricity, the battery supplies the entire range for passage of the pill by the human body, said Steve Klink, spokesman of Philips Research, Rechargeable battery is not, however - the system is designed for disposable use.

More and more people in the western world suffer from chronic inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. It is possible that some drugs should be treated with steroids, but in higher doses, side effects, so Philips. With the iPill it would be possible, the products exactly to the place to bring the disease. This could be the dosage of medication can be reduced.

With the iPill are also quite a new method of treatment of Crohn's disease possible, said Klink. Against the disease was a new substance has been found, but will decompose in the stomach. With the iPill but it would be possible to use the drug safely through the stomach to carry and release until the intestine.

In addition to the Philips i-Pill also developed methods to medicines through the bloodstream to a certain point of delivery. To this end, the patient tiny bubbles the sizes of a red blood cell are injected, half with oxygen to Haglfte with a drug are filled. By ultrasound the doctor should make their way through the body, so Klink. Be on the destination, they will be brought to burst and give the drug free.