Electronic Pill is a tiny capsule-sized electronic device that with the help of various components encapsulated in a small pill helps doctors in investigating several stomach-related diseases, bowel injuries, unexplained bleeding, malabsorption disorders, ulcers, tumors of the small intestine and inflammatory bowel diseases, etc.

In other words, an electronic pill is a medical monitoring system in the form of a small pill with an ingestible sensor that begins transmitting the medical data when it is consumed by the patients. These swallowable pills can withstand the harsh acidic environment of the gut and can help doctors in temperature analysis, pH measurements, and collecting pressure data too.[1]

Figure 1. The Micro Electronic Pills

Figure 1 shows Current polymers used to encapsulate the edible devices are rigid and make the devices size similar to that of the superior gastrointestinal tract diameter. The incidence of retention is between 1.4% and 2.5%, depending on the patient´s condition. Retention poses a high risk of lumen perforation. These problems make non-degradable capsules unsuitable for repetitive treatments. Current trends focus on finding new materials that are biodegradable and flexible but resistant enough to carry out their tasks inside the body. This would specially benefit molecular biosensing and delivery.

Some materials can be borrowed from necessary, dietary elements, and thus serve a dual purpose. Minerals, for example, can be used as battery electrodes or other components. Synthetic polymers used as food additives can be used to constitute some device parts like coatings, substrates or layers. Biomolecules and biopolymers can be part of electronic elements.[2]

Types of electronic pill

An electronic pill can be classified into two types: one including a camera that collects data from disease-infected areas and sends it to the system, and the other containing only sensors to measure pH level, temperature, oxygen level and so on.

• Intelligent pill
  This is basically a plastic capsule usually taken with solid food or water. It is meant to be transported through the digestive system in a natural manner. Then, the drug is dispensed to different parts of the body. The size of the device is similar to that of a fat multivitamin, and the drug can carry out specialised actions.
• IntelliCap drug
  This electronic pill acts as a drug delivery and monitoring device. It is made of a drug reservoir, wireless communication system, electronic controllers, sensors and delivery pump. The device has a minuscule form and, upon ingestion, it travels through the gastrointestinal tract. Use of onboard electronics makes the drug delivery precise and flexible.[3]

Future outlook

Innovative digital devices making smart use of personalised data will bring about a revolution in healthcare technology. While there are many difficulties and barriers to their adoption, these excuses can no longer stop us from embracing technologies that could have a positive impact on our lives.

At the laboratory level, it has been confirmed that electronic pills that employ a body’s natural electrolytes can be produced, strengthening their biodegradability towards disintegration after the aim has been met.

The invention of the transistor has led to radiometry capsules with simple circuits for the detection of diseases and abnormalities by internal study of the gastrointestinal tract even in restricted areas where use of traditional endoscopy was not permitted. [3]

References:

1. https://circuitdigest.com/article/ingestible-electronic-pills-for-real-time-analysis-of-gastro-intestinal-tract
2. http://www.labcritics.com/future-pills-will-be-electronic-4885/
3. https://www.electronicsforu.com/technology-trends/tech-focus/electronic-pill-healthcare-technology-holy-grail

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2021), Micro Electronic Pills, Anatechmaz, pp. 50