When it reaches a certain age, classification for colon cancer is a dreaded but necessary issue. Not only is it uncomfortable to even think about the procedure, the preparation is so bad and it requires that the patient be “cleansed” before the procedure can begin. To get rid of the sting of colon cancer screening, the medical startup CheckCap has an innovative idea. Instead of sending a snake scope to the patients’ intestines, Check-Cap uses an X-ray pill that is swallowed and travels smoothly through the colon, providing images as it goes.
Check-Capusa a disposable capsule that travels naturally through the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted without any intervention. The X-ray technology incorporated in the capsule provides a three-dimensional angular joint in the large intestine, unlike the optics used in an endoscope, which can see through the intestinal contents. As the capsule passes through the colon, an external data receiver collects the images and analyzes them as part of the cancer detection process.
The technology is sensitive enough to detect clinically significant polyps, but unlike an endoscope, it can not be used to remove them for biopsy. If a polyp or a suspicious tumor is detected, the patient must undergo a traditional colonoscopy procedure to remove possibly diseased tissue for further analysis. Despite this disadvantage, the method may be useful for patients who need research based on age but who have a relatively low risk of colon cancer.
This allows them to have the necessary evaluation procedure with minimal discomfort. It can also extend the detection of patients being reluctant to undergo a colonoscopy due to its inconvenient preparation and invasive nature.
Check-Cap is still in the early stages of development and is not yet available for sale or clinical use. It is in the midst of clinical trials in Europe with a similar program that will begin soon in the US. As part of the FDA approval process. When released, the Check-Cap capsule is expected to cost $ 600 per scan, compared to $ 1,000 to 3,000 for a colonoscopy.
