Swallowable Cameras For Colon Inspections

WNYC | Aug 10, 2015

In March of 2000, Katie Couric, then the host of NBC’s ‘Today Show,’ famously let the cameras roll as she underwent a colonoscopy. Couric’s husband died of colon cancer at the age of 42.

In the months following her very public examination, there was a 20% spike in the rate of screenings. It was dubbed the “Katie Couric Effect.” But 15 years on, a lot of people still opt out of getting a colonoscopy: the uncomfortable prep and the invasive procedure give many Americans pause. That’s got medical device makers working hard on alternatives, including swallowable cameras.

From the Here & Now Contributor’s Network, Todd Bookman from The Pulse at WHYY reports.

Reporter

  • Todd Bookman, health and science reporter for WHYY. He tweets @toddbookman.
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

The World Cup, the Knicks, and LeBron James’s Fate: An All-Time Summer in Sports

The staff writer Louisa Thomas on the U.S. men’s national soccer team, the N.B.A. off-season, and Serena Williams.
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

The near-collapsed Midtown building is now stable, but its finances may not be

Experts say the structural failure at the Pfizer Building could cause financial problems and a lingering stigma — but that the city’s housing shortage means renters will probably move in anyway.
Gothamist |

NYC DSA on Their Big Wins, and the Future

NYC-DSA co-chairs Grace Mausser and Gustavo Gordillo talk about the DSA's recent big wins.
The Brian Lehrer Show |

Simplecast episode unavailable

You have exceeded your api key request quota for this account
WNYC
YOU ARE ONLINE