Reusable Camera Pillby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 08 Feb 2008 12:12 PM Take one of these and I'll look at your insides in the morning. Well, not quite, but science fiction just got a little closer, thanks to a new tiny camera pill that can be swallowed like a common pain killer. The camera pill is ultra affordable, only $300 and can be used over and over again. Compare this cost to a standard exploratory scope that costs $5,000, or a previously invented camera pill (in 2000 by an Israeli team) that could only be used once, since it travelled all the way through the digestive system and well, emerged a bit worse for the trip. Eric Seibel, a research associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Washington, created the camera pill to help doctors detect precancerous cells in the esophagus. Esophageal cancer is currently the fastest growing cancer in the United States. Currently, doctors use a standard endoscope, which is so large that it can only be inserted while a patient is sedated. In comparison, the new camera pill is simply swallowed. A "string" is attached to the pill, allowing doctors to manipulate the camera and remove it after the ten minute procedure is completed. Inside the camera pill are seven fiber optic cables. The technology of this camera pill is exciting not only use in the throat, but future applications could include do everything from using the camera pill to see inside a fallopian tube and examining the area deep inside a lung. Seibel himself is the only human subject to test the camera so far. But, extensive human testing on the camera pill is scheduled to begin in March. What do you think of this story? Would you welcome this kind of technology? Do you think would have trouble swallowing it? Leave me a comment. I would love to hear what your opinion. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here. Related Articles: Want A Facial Massage? Ask A Robot A Fall Down the Stairs And Healthcare Savings Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantcomputers tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags cancer, computers, camera, health, technology Discuss this article
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