Philips makes new smart pills

Dutch firm Philips has developed a capsule that allows the drug to be released into specific places in the intestine. The Telegraph describes this iPill tablet as " containing a microprocessor, battery, radio waves, pump and a container of medicine to release the drug in a special area of ​​the body ."

Philips calls this ' smart pill technician '. This mechanical pill can identify the intestinal tract. The processor in the tablet is capable of performing a series of calculations and following the programmed instructions. iPill can detect alkalinity when it moves through the intestine and with the microprocessor can notice the alkalinity level and the amount of time that has passed since it was swallowed, where it is in the intestine.

Philips new iPill tablet (Photo: Telegraph)

When iPill has reached a predetermined position, by analyzing the alkalinity level, a programmed amount of medication can be released. Philips hopes that the correct release of the drug at the intended location will be helpful for conditions such as colon cancer, Crohn's disease and colon inflammation.

This is the second smart pill Philips has made for medical use. The first pill is a ' camera pill ' created in 2001. This tablet is capable of providing an image of the intestinal tract to diagnose a variety of diseases.