SMALL-BOWEL BIOPSY BY REMOTE-CONTROL - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY ON DOGS

Telemetry has been used for 30 years in medicine because it requires n o link between patients and apparatus. To take advantage of this, we h ave developed a multipurpose intestinal capsule for the small bowel, w ith interchangeable tips triggered by remote control. A new tip, perfo rming small bowel mucosal biopsy by remote control is presented. The l ocation of the capsule is radiotransmitted by means of a cogwheel, whi ch is rotated by contact with the intestinal wall. At the chosen site (ie, a number of centimeters from the pylorus), the remote control is activated and the mucosal biopsy is performed through a suction port a nd kept inside the tip. The capsule then passes throughout the bowel a nd is recovered in the stool to allow examination of the biopsies. The results of 24 studies on a dog (crossing of the pylorus, length, tran sit time, velocity) are analyzed to validate the method. Biopsies were accomplished in the stomach, the small bowel (ileum), and the colon. The device failed two times, but no complications occurred. Biopsies, with average surfaces were 6 mm(2), never penetrated the longitudinal muscular layer. The system is precise to within 3 cm, efficient, relia ble, noninvasive, and causes minimal discomfort during investigation.