Desenvolvimento de cápsula endoscópica para diagnóstico de doenças gastrointestinais em caninos

Abstract

The endoscopic capsule for diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases in dogs is a technological innovation developed to overcome the limitations of conventional endoscopic techniques. The project focuses on the development and validation of this device, aiming to offer a less invasive and more effective solution for veterinary diagnosis. The study began with the design and assembly of an electronic circuit, employing the ESP32-CAM microcontroller for real-time image capture and transmission, along with the MPU-6050 gyroscope for precise geolocation within the gastrointestinal tract.For prototype development, the system was initially simulated using Fritzing software, with only the camera operating independently, followed by the physical assembly of components on a protoboard. Simultaneously, a graphical interface in MATLAB® was developed for processing the captured images, including functions for segmentation and anomaly detection, such as tumor identification. The interface also allows real-time visualization of the capsule’s location and orientation using inertial data captured by the MPU-6050.Furthermore, the interface was designed to generate automatic PDF reports, documenting the images captured during the exam, facilitating data storage and analysis for future reference. For prototype validation, tests were conducted in a controlled environment simulating the conditions of the canine gastrointestinal tract, allowing the assessment of image transmission quality, localization accuracy, and system stability in low-light conditions and curved trajectories. The results indicated that the developed endoscopic capsule has the potential to effectively and safely assist in diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases in dogs, presenting itself as a viable alternative to conventional endoscopic techniques. However, limitations were identified related to image resolution, system stability, and capsule size, highlighting possible improvements such as higher-resolution image sensors, enhanced lighting technologies for low-light environments, and component miniaturization.The study concluded that with additional technical refinements and new tests in real clinical settings, the endoscopic capsule could be integrated into veterinary practice, providing a more accessible, safe, and less invasive diagnostic method for monitoring gastrointestinal diseases in dogs