Capsule endoscopy: Emerging technologies and future clinical applications

Capsule endoscopy has evolved from a diagnostic tool for small bowel evaluation into a complex platform with expanding diagnostic and prognostic potential.This mini review aims to summarize recent advances in capsule endoscopy and explore potential clinical applications and future directions of this technology.The introduction of pan-enteric capsule endoscopy has enabled comprehensive evaluation of the entire gastrointestinal tract in a single, minimally invasive examination, supporting treat-to-target approaches and improving disease phenotyping in inflammatory bowel disease.Artificial intelligence (AI) represents one of the most important recent developments in capsule endoscopy.Deep learning algorithms have demonstrated high accuracy in lesion detection while reducing reading times.More recently, AI has been applied to automated inflammatory activity scoring, bowel cleansing assessment, and computer-assisted reporting, facilitating standardized interpretation and improving report quality.Magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy has further expanded the role of capsule technology by enabling active navigation within the upper gastrointestinal tract.Recent innovations include detachable-string systems for esophageal examination, remote 5Gassisted capsule navigation, and integration with AI-assisted image analysis, opening new perspectives for noninvasive evaluation from mouth to anus.Experimental robotic capsule prototypes have explored the feasibility of interventional functions, including tissue sampling and targeted drug delivery.These technologies remain at the preclinical stage, and their potential clinical applicability requires further investigation.