The three year EU funded project entitled "Nano-based capsule endoscopy with Molecular Imaging and Optical Biopsy", or "NEMO", will combine optical imaging with nanotechnologies, biosensing and manoeuvring to create an integrated imaging-biosensing system to screen for cancer of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
The objective of the NEMO project is to make cancer screening more patient-friendly through the development of an advanced cancer screening system.
The system will consist of a PillCam capsule endoscope capable of analysing secretions and detecting deep tissue disorders, a datarecorder on a belt that receives signals transmitted by the capsule, and a workstation enabling physicians to view and edit the video of the small intestine images.
The consortium believes that using a combination of image and molecular analysis to find the tumour could provide a new medical device for the mass screening of GI cancer.
"The project is committed to develop new and innovative solutions to help physicians treat their patients and could represent a revolutionary platform of biopsy free procedures," said Elisha Rabinovitz, the chief scientist at Given Imaging, the company leading the consortium.
The European Commission agreed to provide 2.8 million towards the total cost - slightly more than half of the total amount needed. This is because, under the rules of the Commission's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), commercial companies can claim 50% of their costs, while academic institutions can claim up to 75%.
Meanwhile, the company behind the PillCam capsule has been heralded as one of the World Economic Forum's 2007 Technology Pioneers for its innovative camera the size of a vitamin tablet.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.givenimaging.com/Cultures/en-US/given/english
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