A new device for detecting Barrett’s oesophagus — a type of cancer — promises to be around 10 times cheaper and considerably less invasive than standard endoscopy. It comprises a ‘cytosponge’ compressed inside a gelatin pill capsule on a string, which is swallowed and dissolved before the expanded sponge is pulled back up to retrieve a cell sample. Persistent heartburn or indigestion, caused by stomach acid coming back up the gullet, is a major risk factor for cancer of the oesophagus. Over time, this can cause the cells lining the lower oesophagus to start to resemble those found in the small and large intestines, a condition known as Barrett’s oesophagus.
