Advances in imaging, battery life, and AI are fueling a resurgence of capsule endoscopy as a patient-friendly alternative to traditional endoscopy. Once limited by low diagnostic yield, today’s capsule technologies—like Medtronic’s AI-powered PillCam and CapsoVision’s CapsoCam—now deliver sensitivity and specificity rates approaching 100%. With FDA clearances for remote ingestion, the technology is expanding access to rural, pediatric, and mobility-limited populations. While capsule endoscopy remains purely diagnostic for now, it’s gaining traction as a cost-effective, minimally invasive option that could reduce unnecessary endoscopies, improve efficiency, and pave the way for hybrid therapeutic applications in the future.
Key Takeaways
- Capsule endoscopy market projected to grow at >6% CAGR in North America (2024–2034).
- Medtronic dominates U.S. market share (89.4%) with AI integration and at-home protocols.
- CapsoCam cleared for use in children 2+ years and remote ingestion, broadening reach.
- Alternatives like FIT tests and Cyted’s EndoSign sponge also challenge traditional endoscopy.
- Current limitation: capsule endoscopy is diagnostic only, requiring follow-up endoscopy for interventions.
- Future outlook: research exploring robotic sampling, targeted drug delivery, and hybrid therapeutic capsules.