Originally posted by shrox
So far nothing has been able to reach the middle of the intestines(other than exploratory surgery), the plumbing just too kinky and turny. I already had a colonoscopy and endoscopy, the tool just can't get it past the first few turns.
Well, crap. No pun intended.
This is why I
like paying my taxes in Canada; if you need exploratory surgery, we'd have you scheduled for exploratory surgery. Of course, you'd be on a waiting list anywhere from eight months to four years long, and you'd be bumped down the list repeatedly until your situation became immediately life-threatening, but hey. I know, we're evil socialists. But I digress.
I thought of another concern today. You'll need a transmitter, and I don't know of one that will fit (well, maybe the Palm Bluetooth module? but then you need to translate your video into a digital signal, which means even more control gear. Also, stay out of Starbucks during the camera's operation). The transmitter will need an antenna. The antenna's size is determined by the frequency; higher frequencies mean smaller antennas, but have a harder time punching through obstructions (like, say, 20cm of Shrox-o-flesh). Higher frequencies also present their own health risks; another word for extremely high frequencies is "microwave", with all the effects that word brings to mind and more. It might make your condition worse, or create a whole new condition. When you've found a transmitter to use, talk to somebody who really knows about radio and radiation exposure for advice on if it'll be safe to run whatever power level it uses inside your body for three days straight.
I understand that MedEquipCorp or whoever has a professionally made capsule that transmits safely, but unless you're using the same transmitter, it's not a good comparison.
Now even though I sound kind of negative, when I point out reasons your plan won't work, it's intended constructively. That's what I do. Every week I meet with two guys who come up with ideas, I come up with 50 ways to shoot it down, they refine their ideas, I come up with 3 more reasons it'll fail, they make another refinement, I find nothing, we all cheer loudly and move forward.
New idea: what if you gave this capsule a life-support tether? Might be a bit uncomfortable, but you swallow a capsule containing the camera only, and it trails a power / data lead behind it, back out your mouth. You swallow an extra 3" of slack line every hour. When the capsule exits, you cut the line and swallow it, then you can draw it out. You might be able to accelerate the capsule's voyage using a common laxative. This gets rid of all kinds of issues, but probably creates many more... please hack this one apart ruthlessly for the sake of improvement.
