The future of capsule endoscopy in clinical practice: from diagnostic to therapeutic experimental prototype capsules

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is indicated as a first-line clinical examination for the detection of small-bowel pathology, and there is an ever-growing drive for it to become a method for the screening of the entire gastrointestinal tract (GI). Although CE’s main function is diagnosis, the research for therapeutic capabilities has intensified to make therapeutic capsule endoscopy (TCE) a target within reach. This manuscript presents the research evolution of CE and TCE through the last 5 years and describes notable problems, as well as clinical and technological challenges to overcome. This review also reports the state-of-the-art of capsule devices with a focus on CE research prototypes promising an enhanced diagnostic yield (DY) and treatment. Lastly, this article provides an overview of the research progress made in software for enhancing DY by increasing the accuracy of abnormality detection and lesion localisation.