(NewsNation) — A bite-sized piece of tech that could get an inside look at your gastrointestinal health is on its way to commercial launch.
Those tiny robots, called PillBots, are entering clinical trials in hopes to undergo FDA review. If successful, they could make a commercial launch as soon as 2026.
What is a PillBot?
The PillBot is a swallowable robot developed by Endiatx that would perform non-invasive endoscopies using cameras and sensors.
“It replaces the upper endoscopy (EGD) by letting doctors have a quick look inside the stomach over a telemedicine call,” Endiatx’s website reads.
As a “moving eyeball in the stomach,” the robotic pill would help doctors navigate internal affairs — with no sedation and minimal fasting required from the patient.
How does a PillBot work?
After ingesting the PillBot, the robot moves around the body using “patented multi-pumpjet propulsion” controlled remotely by doctors. A live feed inside, lit by the robot’s own LED system, is then saved for AI-enhanced analysis later.
CEO Torrey Smith has showed the process himself in demonstrations, swallowing the PillBot more than 40 times.
The PillBot shuts off and passes through the gastrointestinal system within 24 hours of being swallowed.
So far, Endiatx has raised $7 million in funding, Smith told VentureBeat.
“It can transmit high-res video at 2.3 megapixels per second, and we have plans to quadruple that video quality soon,” Smith told VentureBeat.
How much would PillBots cost?
Endiatx wants to make their mini robots readily available and affordable, with potential over-the-counter purchases ringing in at roughly $50 per PillBot.
The next venture for the company could be PillSurgeon, an expansion on the PillBot with tools to remove polyps, collect microbiome samples, cauterize bleeds and perform biopsies.
