MIT researchers have created an ingestible capsule capable of monitoring vital signs, such as heart rate and breathing patterns, from within a patient's gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The scientists believe that the novel device also has the potential to detect signs of respiratory depression during an opioid overdose. Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT and a developer of various ingestible sensors, stated that the device's utility extends to sleep studies, offering a more convenient alternative to traditional methods that involve multiple external sensors and devices.
Traditional sleep studies typically involve connecting patients to multiple sensors and devices. In both laboratory settings and at-home studies, sensors are affixed to the patient's scalp, temples, chest, and lungs using wires. Additionally, patients may wear a nasal cannula, chest belt, and pulse oximeter, all of which can be connected to a portable monitor. Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, emphasized the challenges associated with trying to sleep while connected to such machinery.
This trial, conducted using a capsule developed by Celero Systems, a startup led by MIT and Harvard researchers, represents the first human testing of ingestible sensor technology. The research, undertaken by experts from West Virginia University and other hospital affiliates, involved a capsule equipped with two small batteries and a wireless antenna for data transmission. The ingestible sensor, comparable in size to a vitamin capsule, traversed the gastrointestinal tract, collecting signals while in the stomach. During an overnight stay at a sleep lab, the device recorded respiration, heart rate, temperature, and gastric motility, even detecting sleep apnea in one participant.
The results suggest that the ingestible sensor could measure health metrics on par with medical-grade diagnostic equipment used in sleep centers. This technology has the potential to eliminate the need for patients to stay overnight at a sleep lab connected to numerous sensors and devices for specific sleep disorder diagnoses.
Crucially, MIT reports no adverse effects from capsule ingestion. While the capsule typically passes through a patient within a day or so, its short internal lifespan might limit its effectiveness as a monitoring device. Dr. Giovanni Traverso, co-founder of Celetro, the startup behind the capsule, aims to implement a mechanism allowing it to remain in a patient's stomach for a week. Dr. Ali Rezai from the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute sees significant potential for creating a new pathway to identify overdoses through the device, suggesting that future iterations could even administer drugs internally, such as overdose reversal agents, based on recorded vitals. Additional data from the studies will be released in the coming months.
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