PillCam is like a GoPro for your guts (and way more comfy than the alternative)

By Drew Prindle February 10, 2014

PillCam Colon2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, you can now get your colon checked without ever taking your trousers off. Just last week, the FDA granted its seal of approval to PillCam Colon, a tiny pill-sized camera designed to help doctors spot polyps and other early signs of colon cancer.

Instead of going in through your out door like traditional colonoscopy equipment, you just swallow PillCam Colon like any other pill. Once it’s down the hatch, the device begins to snap high-speed photos of your digestive system, and then wirelessly beams them to a storage device you wear on your waist. After the pill has made it’s way through your guts (usually about eight hours) and picked up all kinds of glamour shots of your intestines, your doctor just hooks up the receiver box to a computer to check out the resulting video.

As this procedure is clearly far less invasive than current colonoscopy procedures (which generally involve probing the large intestine with a tiny camera embedded in a four-foot long, flexible tube – no thanks!), the FDA hopes that it will attract adults who avoid regular screenings due to fears of pain, embarrassment and general discomfort. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines currently recommend regular colonoscopies beginning at age 50 and continuing through age 75 – although most U.S. adults don’t follow these recommendations because, well, nobody likes having a camera probe shoved up there.

It’s also worth noting that at just $500, PillCam Colon is significantly more affordable than the roughly $4,000 rate for a colonoscopy, which makes it accessible for people with lower incomes. That being said, however, company studies did find that images taken by the mini-camera were not quite as clear as those from the in-office procedure, and that PillCam Colon should ideally be used in conjunction with traditional colonoscopy procedures, not as a full-on replacement.

Check out the video below to see the camera in action – but be warned, it’s kinda gross, and possibly NSFW. I’d imagine this is what the inside of a sarlaac pit looks like.

Topics

Emerging Tech

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

Emerging Tech

This bracelet helps you fall asleep faster and sleep longer

woman-in-bed-wearing-twilight-apollo-on-ankle

This content was produced in partnership with Apollo Neuroscience.
Have you been struggling to get the recommended seven hours of sleep? It's always frustrating when you get in bed at a reasonable time, then toss and turn for a hours before you actually sleep. The quality of that sleep is important too. If you're waking up multiple times during the night, you're likely not getting the quality REM cycle sleep that truly rejuvenates your body. If traditional remedies like herbal teas and noise machines just aren't helping, maybe it's time to try a modern solution. Enter the Apollo wearable.

Now we understand being a little skeptical. How can a bracelet on your wrist or ankle affect your sleep patterns? Certainly the answer to a better night's sleep can't be so simple. We considered these same things when we first heard of it. We'll dive deeper into the science behind the Apollo wearable, but suffice it to say that many people have experienced deeper, uninterrupted sleep while wearing one.
A non-conventional approach to better sleep

Deals

The 11 best Father’s Day deals that you can get for Sunday

Data from a workout showing on the screen of the Apple Watch Series 8.

Father's Day is fast approaching and there's still time to buy your beloved Dad a sweet new device to show him how much you love him. That's why we've rounded up the ten best Father's Day tech deals going on right now. There's something for most budgets here, including if you're able to spend a lot on your loved one. Read on while we take you through the highlights and remember to order fast so you don't miss out on the big day.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 -- $200, was $230

While it's the Plus version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 that features in our look at the best tablets, the standard variety is still worth checking out. Saving your Dad the need to dig out their laptop or squint at a small phone screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a large 10.5-inch LCD display and all the useful features you would expect. 128GB of storage means plenty of room for all your Dad's favorite apps as well as games too. A long-lasting battery and fast charging save him the need for a power source too often too.

Deals

The Apollo wearable is proven to help you sleep better (and it’s on sale)

Apollo wearable worn during sleep in bed.

This content was produced in partnership with Apollo Neuro.
Stress, anxiety, and insomnia are all concerning things that just about everyone struggles with at one time or another. Maybe you can sleep, fending off insomnia, but you lack quality sleep and don’t feel rested in the morning. Or, maybe when it’s time to kick back and relax, you just can’t find a way to do so. There are many solutions for these issues, some work, and others don’t, but one unlikely area of support can be found in a modern, smart wearable.

Medicine is the obvious choice, but not everyone prefers to go that route. There is an answer in modern technology or rather a modern wearable device. One such device is the Apollo wearable, which improves sleep and stress relief via touch therapy. According to Apollo Neuro, the company behind the device, which is worn on your ankle, wrist or clipped to your clothing, it sends out waves of vibrations to help your body relax and reduce feelings of stress. It's an interesting new approach to a common problem that has typically been resolved via medicine, therapy, or other more invasive and time-consuming techniques. The way it utilizes those vibrations, uniquely placed and administered, to create a sense of peace, makes us ask, can it really cure what ails us? We’ll dig a little deeper into how it achieves what it does and what methods it’s using to make you feel better.