Digestive disorder specialists at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics call it a small solution to a big problem. They're now using a pill - with a tiny camera inside - to help patients.

The endoscopic capsule, or camera in a pill, can reach a 20-foot gap of small intestine that cannot be seen with standard tests. Patients swallow the pill, and it travels through the body for several hours, taking pictures along the way. A recording device worn around the waist captures images from the camera. The new technology has already made a difference for patients.

"There've been no problems at all with my stomach. I had a small surgery - they removed a small piece of my small intestine that had the problem, and basically since then I've been totally fine," says Matthew Anci, a patient.

The camera pill is an option for patients with disorders such as unexplained bleeding or Crohn's disease, among others. The camera records about 55,000 high-quality color images that can help doctors provide a more accurate diagnosis.

"Consistently, it's been shown to be better at diagnosing certain disorders in the small intestine than the testing that we've had in the past," says David Ramkumar, M.D., UI gastroenterologist.

"It changed my life completely. It really did save my life in a way, yeah," says Anci.

Specialists say the camera pill does not replace traditional colonoscopy, but it does allow the patient to continue daily activities while the test is in progress.

An imaging study with the camera pill costs about $1,200 for patients referred by their personal physician. Insurance typically covers the bill for the test.

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Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Davendra Ramkumar, M.D.