The Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved Given Imaging's PillCam patency capsule for use with PillCam SB.
The PillCam patency capsule is a dissolvable capsule which facilitates physicians to determine whether there are obstructions or strictures in the small bowel that may prevent passage of the PillCam SB video capsule.
In April 2007, MHLW has approved PillCam SB capsule for visualizing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB).
Given Imaging president and CEO Homi Shamir said the company is pleased that physicians in Japan will be able to utilize PillCam SB to help monitor and manage their patients with GI diseases like Crohn’s disease.
Japan Association for Capsule Endoscopy chairman and Dokkyo Medical University president Akira Terano said the expanded clearance means that physicians have a new tool to help them safely diagnose and monitor a broader group of patients with GI diseases.