Swallowable Sensor Makes Gut Inflammation Monitoring Simple

Just a little blue pill. No, not that one.

University of Toronto researchers have co-developed a low-cost, swallowable device that helps people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis monitor gut inflammation at home.

Instead of invasive colonoscopies or lab stool tests, the PRIM pill releases a harmless blue dye when gut inflammation is present, which can be seen in toilet water. In pre-clinical tests, the device detected inflammation with about 68% accuracy and could be manufactured for under 50 cents, opening the door to accessible, routine monitoring worldwide.

“Our goal was to design something simple, affordable and patient-friendly that makes it possible to detect inflammation without needing a lab.”

— Caitlin Maikawa, Assistant Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto

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