Given Imaging Ltd announced that the first in-human study analyzing remote magnetic manipulation of a PillCam video capsule was published in the June 2010 edition of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy is the journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, which validates the potential of magnetic maneuvering of the PillCam capsule endoscope. “This study demonstrated two things: 1] we can maneuver capsule in humans and 2] that the procedure is painless. We believe that these results underscore the value of conducting additional clinical studies in humans,” said Dr. Paul Swain of the Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. “Remote manipulation may improve diagnostic accuracy and is essential for the future development of remote controlled therapy by video capsules,” GIVN said.

Upwards of 76 percent of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) experienced significant quality of life (QOL) improvements after undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), according to new research in the January 2010 issue of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. CRS is a debilitating form of sinusitis that can lead to significant physical symptoms as well as substantial functional and emotional impairment.

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Older patients with peptic ulcer hemorrhage who had upper endoscopy within one day of presentation fared better than counterparts who had the procedure later, a national population-based study found. Early endoscopy was independently associated with a lower likelihood of surgery, according to Gregory S. Cooper, MD, and colleagues from the Case Medical Center in Cleveland.

A multicentre European study has indicated that wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is safe, practical and useful in children as young as 18 months. Gastroenterologists in nine hospitals successfully applied WCE in 83 children aged from 1.5 to 7.9 years. While with sufficient coaxing, about 25% of children older than four were able to swallow the WCE device. The remainder required the device to be placed endoscopically.

Mazor Surgical Technologies has received CE Mark Certification for its DiscAssist guidance and positioning system for disc replacement surgery. DiscAssist helps doctors to plan the appropriate size and placement of artificial discs in interverteberal disc replacement surgery. The company aims at filing for FDA approval in the US and expected to receive the same by the end of 2008.