Towards wireless capsule endoscopic ultrasound (WCEU)

Abstract

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has revolutionized the capacity for evaluation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although WCE provides high quality images of the GI tract, evaluation is limited to the mucosal surface. This work investigates feasibility and design considerations for wireless capsule endoscopic ultrasound (WCEU) that combines the benefits of WCE and ultrasound imaging. This work has two goals: (1) evaluate transducer designs appropriate for WCEU and (2) investigate whether peristalsis can produce sufficient contact to ensure acoustic coupling. Between mechanical scanning (MS) and side-looking array (SLA) designs, MS performs better for both imaging performance and system complexity. In vivo imaging in pigs demonstrates promising results, although the effect of peristalsis and resulting coverage needs further investigation and quantification.