posted April 17, 2002
Parkridge Medical Center will be among the first hospitals in the nation to use a clinically proven medical technology that allows physicians to see what no one has ever been able to fully capture before - the entire 21 feet of the human small intestine, hospital officials said.
The M2A(tm) Capsule Endoscope, or camera in a pill, was pioneered by Given Imaging Corporation (Nasdaq: GIVN) to give patients a non-invasive option for diagnosis of certain small intestine disorders. Parkridge is the first in this region to provide the new technology.
Approximately 70 million Americans currently suffer from gastrointestinal troubles, including disorders such as obscure bleeding, Crohn's Disease, malabsorption or Celiac Disease, and intestinal tumors. However, many of these conditions go undiagnosed, or are treated with trial and error, due to
"Our patients will benefit from the new technology being made available by Parkridge," said Richard Sadowitz, MD, gastroenterologist, who is expected to be the first physician to use the new equipment.
"The new technology gives us the ability to see the entire small bowel, which we've not been able to do before. This technique brings new hope to hundreds of people in
our community."
The capsule, which is taken with a sip of water, just like a vitamin, passes naturally through the digestive tract, recording video images that are transmitted to and then stored on a recorder belt worn throughout the day. Eight hours after swallowing the capsule, the patient returns the belt to the physician's office. The physician then views the images using the Given
Imaging workstation and RAPID software, and later reports his or her findings back to the patient.
Parkridge's staff is being trained and the new equipment installed this
week. The first patient will also use the new equipment by the end of the week.
About Given Imaging Corporation
Given Imaging produces and markets the Given® Diagnostic System featuring its M2A(tm) Capsule Endoscope, a fundamentally new approach to examining the
gastrointestinal tract. The system uses a disposable miniature video camera contained in a capsule that is ingested by a patient and delivers high quality color images in a painless and noninvasive manner. The test can be conducted while a patient continues normal daily activities. The system
received clearance from the FDA in August 2001. Many patients suffering
from diseases of the small intestine such as obscure bleeding, Crohn's
disease, malabsorption (Celiac disease), and intestinal tumors have already benefited from this innovative technology.
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