Capsule endoscopy is a procedure used to examine the entire small bowel measuring 6 metres in length (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) with a small, disposable vitamin-pill sized capsule which contains a tiny HD camera, batteries, LED light and transmitter. The capsule is swallowed with a sip of water and travels through the small bowel taking multiple images per second. By the end of the procedure up to 100,000 images may have been captured and transmitted to a data recorder that is worn around the waist the entire time. At some point in the following day or days the capsule is passed out and can be safely flushed away.

This procedure is performed to investigate conditions such as Crohn’s disease, small bowel tumours and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.