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The following is a summary of “Assessment of gastrointestinal transit by the Atmo Capsule: A comparison with the SmartPill Capsule,” published in the January 2025 issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology by Kuo et al. 

Wireless motility capsules (WMCs) provide a non-invasive method for assessing gastrointestinal transit times, aiding in the diagnosis and management of motility disorders. The Atmo Capsule is a novel WMC designed to measure luminal gases (H₂, CO₂, O₂) and temperature, distinguishing it from the SmartPill Capsule, a previously established but now discontinued WMC. This study aimed to evaluate the performance characteristics of the Atmo Capsule in comparison to the SmartPill Capsule for measuring gastric emptying time (GET) and colonic transit time (CTT) in patients with confirmed or suspected gastrointestinal motility disorders. In this multicenter, randomized study, participants ingested both capsules in a predetermined order, with transit times assessed using Spearman correlation and Bland-Altman analysis. Delayed transit was defined as GET ≥5 hours and CTT ≥59 hours, and agreement between devices was analyzed accordingly. A total of 213 participants across 12 sites were enrolled, yielding 177 paired GET and 147 paired CTT measurements. 

The Atmo Capsule and SmartPill Capsule demonstrated strong correlations for both GET (R=0.73, P<0.01) and CTT (R=0.69, P<0.01), with observed biases within 10% of the delayed transit threshold. Delayed GET and CTT were identified in 38% of participants, with 84% overall agreement between devices. The Atmo Capsule exhibited a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 86% for detecting delayed GET, while sensitivity and specificity for delayed CTT were 67% and 93%, respectively. Importantly, no serious adverse events related to device ingestion were reported. 

These findings establish the Atmo Capsule as a reliable and clinically valid alternative to the SmartPill Capsule for evaluating gastrointestinal transit, demonstrating strong concordance with the reference standard and supporting its potential use in clinical practice.

Source: cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(25)00069-2/fulltext