Scientists from MIT, Celero Systems, and West Virginia University have developed an ingestible device capable of monitoring vital signs from within the human body. This device, about the size of a multivitamin, uses an accelerometer to monitor breathing and heart rate, offering a more accessible and convenient approach to patient care.
Unlike implantable ones like pacemakers, ingestible devices are easier to use as they do not require surgical procedures. They represent a growing field of medical technology, like ingestible cameras used for colonoscopies. This new vitals-monitoring pill (VM Pill) is designed to detect small body vibrations related to breathing and heartbeats, thus capable of identifying conditions like respiratory cessation from within the digestive tract.
Researchers tested this device in pigs under anesthesia and
administered a dose of fentanyl, simulating a human opioid overdose. The device successfully measured the pigs’ breathing rates in real-time and alerted researchers, enabling them to reverse the overdose. In addition, this pill device was also tested in human patients evaluated for sleep apnea at West Virginia University. This pill device accurately detected breathing cessation and monitored respiration rate (92.7%) and heart rate (at least 96%).
The current VM Pill version passes through the body in about a day, but future modifications could allow for longer stays in the body for extended monitoring. There are also plans to enhance the device to automatically deliver drugs to reverse conditions like opioid overdose upon detecting symptoms. These devices could present a cost-effective solution for monitoring and treating various health conditions.
Ref:
- Ingestible electronic device detects breathing depression in patients. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Published November 17, 2023. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://news.mit.edu/2023/ingestible-electronic-device-detects-breathing-depression-patients-1117
- Traverso G, Finomore V, Mahoney J, et al. First-in-human trial of an ingestible vitals-monitoring pill. Device. 2023;1(5):100125. doi:10.1016/j.device.2023.100125