Design and fabrication of magnetically driven cytology brush applicable to capsule endoscope

Over the last decade, a capsule endoscope (CE) has become widespread as an effective device inspecting a small intestine. Its function of inspection using a built-in camera and wireless communication allows a physician to examine in a minimally invasive manner. The current research on the CE is focused on a next-generation CE equipped with additional functions such as biopsy and drug delivery [1,2]. But there have been very few clinically successful studies so far because conventional techniques can hardly build both a power supply and a micro-actuator into the limited space. In order to provide a feasible solution for these problems, this study has proposed a function of diagnosis using external magnetic operation. We fabricated a magnetically driven cytology brush that can scrape cells of gastrointestinal tract. This paper describes its basic concept, structure and testing results.