The coil generates a magnetic field that interacts with the pill’s sensors, allowing AI to pinpoint its location within the gut.Scientists at the University of Southern California have created an AI-driven system that precisely tracks tiny ingestible devices designed to monitor disease markers in the gut.
“We use AI to pinpoint the location of the ingestible as it moves through the GI tract,” Yasser Khan, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at USC and lead author of the study, toldThe gasses in our gut, made when bacteria break down food, tell us a lot about our health. Currently, doctors use methods like collecting gas directly from the intestines or testing breath and stool samples to measure these gasses.
“To address this, we employ AI, enhanced by a flexible bend sensor, to model how the coil’s bending affects the field. By integrating these models into a neural network, we can accurately determine the location of the ingestible,” he highlighted.“While the current study primarily measures oxygen and ammonia, future versions of the ingestible device are planned to detect a broader array of gasses and biomarkers linked to different health conditions,” emphasized Professor Khan.
Addressing the power source of the ingestible pill, Khan explained, “Currently, we’re using silver oxide batteries in the ingestible device because they are safe for use within the GI tract.”