Spider Pill Could Make Colon Exams Easier on Patients
The Telegraphreports that researchers are hailing the "spider pill" as a new way to scan for disease in the stomach or colon. The "spider pill" has legs and could be controlled remotely by a physician during an exam.
The legs protrude outwards and are movable in order to make device to 'crawl' inside the patient like a spider. It can be moved back and forth, giving doctors more flexibility during the examination.
Dr Enrico Grasso, a cancer specialist at the University Hospital Tor Vergata in Rome.in Italy, told the BBC the invention could reduce the use of endoscopes that many patients find so uncomfortable that they refuse treatment.
"It could improve adherence to the program," he said.
A pill with legs sounds creepy but it would probably be much less intrusive than the colonoscopy tests. They will need to test it very carefully to make sure it is safe for humans.
