LEUVEN (Belgium) and WAGENINGEN (the Netherlands), 19 May, 2025— Imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital
technologies, will demonstrate a highly miniaturized ingestible sensor,
live on 20 May at ITF World 2025. The sensor prototype, developed at
OnePlanet Research Center, is three times smaller than current capsule
endoscopies and the first to provide redox balance measurements. This
can provide valuable insights into intestinal inflammation, the gut
microbiome, and overall health, representing a significant leap forward
in the non-invasive monitoring of gut health and management of
gastrointestinal diseases.
Maintaining a healthy gut is crucial for overall well-being, as the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays a vital role in nutrient absorption,
immune function, and the prevention of harmful substances from entering
the body. However, monitoring gut health is challenging due to the
complexity and inaccessibility of the GI tract. Traditional methods,
such as endoscopy and colonoscopy, cannot provide a comprehensive view
of the entire GI tract and are inherently unpleasant procedures. Capsule
endoscopies, on the other hand, while currently used for diagnosing
gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease through visual
inspection, also require unpleasant bowel preparation. Moreover, current
solutions lack sensors to measure the chemical environment.
Tomorrow at ITF World, imec will showcase a live demonstration of their
highly miniaturized ingestible sensor, offering a comprehensive and
non-invasive solution for gut health monitoring through in vivo
measurements. The sensor, only 2.1cm in length and 0.75cm in diameter
and thus three times smaller than existing capsule endoscopies, is
designed to measure redox balance, pH, and temperature along the entire
gastrointestinal tract. During the demonstration, Aniek Even, a
researcher at imec, will swallow the ingestible sensor, after which
real-time measurements are shown on a screen, highlighting its ease of
use and practical application.
Aniek Even: “Our ingestible sensor technology was successfully evaluated
in healthy volunteers in a study conducted with Wageningen University &
Research, providing the first-in-human measurements of redox balance
along the gut. By providing real-time data on redox balance, the sensor
can help identify oxidative stress, a marker for inflammation, and offer
new insights into the gut microbiome and its role in overall health. Our
small and easy-to-use device could revolutionize the way we diagnose and
manage gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease
and gastrointestinal cancers.” The sensor can take measurements every 20
seconds over a period ranging from 24 hours to a week, depending on the
individual’s gut motility.
Looking ahead, the researchers aim to evaluate the sensor in patient
populations, with follow-up trials in collaboration with Radboud
University Medical Center focusing on patients with cancer or chronic
inflammation, as well as trials with other universities and clinical
centers. The team welcomes opportunities from other institutions to
incorporate the ingestible into diverse clinical trials, further
advancing innovation in healthcare.
