15 May, 2023.

A Western Sydney University (WSU) and Monash University comparative study has validated the Atmo Gas Capsule relative to the SmartPill when measuring gastric emptying time and colonic transit time in patients with gastroparesis and chronic constipation.

Dr Jerry Zhou, lecturer and clinical researcher at WSU School of Medicine, presented findings from the study in a poster presentation at Digestive Disease Week  (DDW), held May 6-9 in Chicago.

In the multicenter study, 43 patients with suspected dysmotility ingested the Atmo capsule and SmartPill simultaneously and researchers compared  the transit times of the two capsules through the different regions of the gastrointestinal tract.

SmartPill uses pH, temperature and pressure to identify when the pill moves through different gut regions, whereas the Atmo capsule uses a range of measures including hydrogen and carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature.

Results showed the two devices had similar transit times and diagnostic agreement, thereby validating the Atmo capsule relative to SmartPill for measurements of gastric emptying time and colonic transit time for patients with gastroparesis and chronic constipation.

The study follows a Monash University trial that demonstrated strong agreement between the Atmo Gas Capsule and SmartPill for measuring transit time in healthy subjects.