title: Wireless capsule endoscope for targeted drug delivery: mechanics and design considerations.
abstract: This paper describes a platform to achieve targeted drug delivery in the next-generation wireless capsule endoscopy. The platform consists of two highly novel subsystems: one is a micropositioning mechanism which can deliver 1 ml of targeted medication and the other is a holding mechanism, which gives the functionality of resisting peristalsis. The micropositioning mechanism allows a needle to be positioned within a 22.5 ° segment of a cylindrical capsule and be extendible by up to 1.5 mm outside the capsule body. The mechanism achieves both these functions using only a single micromotor and occupying a total volume of just 200 mm (3). The holding mechanism can be deployed diametrically opposite the needle in 1.8 s and occupies a volume of just 270 mm (3). An in-depth analysis of the mechanics is presented and an overview of the requirements necessary to realize a total system integration is discussed. It is envisaged that the targeted drug delivery platform will empower a new breed of capsule microrobots for therapy in addition to diagnostics for pathologies such as ulcerative colitis and small intestinal Crohn's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, Imperial College London, London, UK. s.woods09@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Constandinou
mesh_terms: D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019415:Torque