GE to Invest in Israeli Company That Developed Swallowable Endoscopic Capsules
General Electric Healthcare plans to invest in Check-Cap, an Israeli company developing swallowable endoscopic capsules for imaging inside the GI tract, through its $250 million healthymagination fund, according to a news release.
The capsule differs from competitor Given Imaging's PillCam because it uses low-energy X-rays instead of light. This produces a different image and could eliminate the need for typical GI tract preparation because X-rays penetrate through soft material like food. The technology could be used to screen for colorectal cancer as well as other diseases of the GI tract.
Check-Cap plans to introduce the technology in Europe before the end of 2013 and is currently in talks with the FDA.
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