Services
GI Motility & Smart Pill
SWALLOWING DISORDERS
What is SmartPill?
The SmartPill is an FDA-approved capsule that you swallow just like any ordinary oral medication. However, instead of producing a chemical effect, the SmartPill collects data as it passes through your digestive system. In particular, it measures GI motility to help doctors better understand how you are digesting your food. It is especially useful for diagnosing gastroparesis, which involves partial paralysis of the stomach. Other parameters the SmartPill can measure include:
• Stomach acid levels
• GI tract temperature
• Pressure levels
• pH balance
What Are The Benefits?
The Smart Pill can test the motility of the stomach, small intestine, and colon. It is the only test capable of measuring the motility of all three. Without the SmartPill, you may need to undergo multiple rounds of testing to determine the source of your problem. The SmartPill also provides a wealth of information that is not available with any other method of testing and is non-invasive.
How Does SmartPill Work?
The SmartPill moves through your system in about three to five days. During that time, it sends information to a recorder that the patient wears on their hip. Once the data is collected, doctors will then download and analyze it to make a diagnosis. Motility issues will be determined by the length of time the pill remains in your system. For example, if the pill stays in your stomach for more than four hours, this might indicate a problem with GI motility.