This is a technique to look at the small bowel between where a gastroscopy and colonoscopy can reach. The small bowel can range from 1 to 3 metres in length. The capsule is the size of a jelly-bean (approximately 23mm by 11mm) which is either swallowed or placed during a gastroscopy. It then records or transmits images via radio frequency, which is perfectly safe.

It is useful for looking for inflammation in the mid-small bowel or for any polyps that have not been seen before or for any areas of bleeding which may be occurring causing anaemia or blood loss from the gut.