(NewsNation) — A small piece of technology that can provide an inside look at your gastrointestinal health is set to hit commercial sale.
The tiny robot, called Pillbot, is in clinical trials for review by the FDA and, if successful, could be commercially released as soon as 2026.
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What is PillBot?
The PillBot is a swallowable robot developed by Endiatx that uses cameras and sensors to perform non-invasive endoscopy.
“It is an alternative to upper endoscopy (EGD) by allowing doctors to quickly view the inside of the stomach over a telehealth call,” the Endiatx website says.
The robotic pill would act as a “moving eye in the stomach” and help doctors get a better grasp on what's going on inside the body without requiring patients to be sedated or fast minimally.
How does PillBot work?
After ingesting the pillbot, the robot moves around the body using “patented multi-pump jet propulsion” remotely controlled by a doctor, and live footage of the interior, illuminated by the robot's own LED system, is later stored for AI-enhanced analysis.
CEO Torrey Smith personally demonstrated the process, swallowing the pillbot more than 40 times.
Once swallowed, the PillBot will stop functioning within 24 hours and pass through the digestive system.
To date, Endiatx has raised $7 million in funding, Smith told VentureBeat.
“It can transmit high-definition video at 2.3 megapixels per second, and we have plans to quadruple that video quality in the near future,” Smith told VentureBeat.
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How much do PillBots cost?
Endiatx wants to make its mini-robots accessible and affordable: In-store purchases will cost around $50 per PillBot.
The company's next venture could be PillSurgeon, an extension of the PillBot with tools to remove polyps, take microbiological samples, cauterize bleeding and perform biopsies.
