From wearables to swallowables: Engineers create GPS-like smart pills with AI
What are the primary functions of the GPS-like smart pills developed by the Khan Lab at USC Viterbi School of Engineering?
The primary functions of the GPS-like smart pills developed by the Khan Lab at USC Viterbi School of Engineering are to detect stomach gases and provide real-time location tracking within the body4. These capsules are tailored to identify gases associated with gastritis and gastric cancers, and they have been accurately monitored through a newly designed wearable system1. The smart pills hold potential for early disease detection and could also be used to monitor brain health by detecting neurotransmitters related to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
What role does the wearable coil placed on a t-shirt play in the functioning of these ingestible sensors?
The wearable coil placed on a t-shirt plays a crucial role in the functioning of the ingestible sensors. It generates a magnetic field that, when coupled with a trained neural network, allows the researchers to accurately locate the capsule within the body. This innovative combination of wearable technology and ingestible sensors enables real-time tracking of the device's location, specifically in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This breakthrough contributes to the advancement of ingestible technology and has the potential to be used for various health monitoring applications, such as early disease detection and tracking biomarkers related to neurodegenerative diseases.
How does the newly created optical sensing membrane in the smart pills work, particularly in detecting ammonia gas?
The newly created optical sensing membrane in the smart pills works by detecting gases associated with gastritis and gastric cancers, specifically ammonia gas. This membrane is comprised of materials whose electrons change their behavior in the presence of ammonia gas. When the membrane comes into contact with ammonia gas, a signal is generated which can be detected and used for early disease detection. Ammonia is a component of H pylori, gut bacteria that when elevated, could signal a peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, or irritable bowel syndrome. Thus, the presence of this gas acts as a proxy for early disease detection.