A Wirelessly Powered Robotic Capsule Chain for Large Volume Gastrointestinal Liquid Sampling
Bella Boyd, Kaan Esendag, Liu Du, Zaneta Koszowska, Jialun Liu, Shuhei Miyashita, Dana Damian
Abstract
Liquid sampling from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract offers significant diagnostic advantages. This study presents a novel magnetically actuated Robotic Capsule Chain (RCC) for large volume liquid sample collection within the GI tract. The RCC incorporates a wirelessly powered, on-demand motorized sampling mechanism that eliminates the need for onboard batteries or microcontrollers. The system demonstrated reliable operation at distances up to 60 mm from the transmitter coil. Validation experiments confirmed effective sealing of the sampling chamber and successful collection of up to 375 µL of fluids with viscosities comparable to those in the GI tract. Navigation and sampling were further demonstrated in a synthetic bowel model. These findings highlight the potential of robotic capsule chains to enable wireless, minimally invasive diagnostic procedures in the GI tract.