Abdominal PainMACENCT06030518
Robot-controlled Magnet-Assisted Capsule Endoscopy
A study testing Magnet Assisted Capsule Endoscopy in people with Abdominal Pain and Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms, run by Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
Examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach and duodenum) involves passing a flexible tubular endoscope through the mouth into the stomach. It is commonly performed to identify the cause of abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea and anaemia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 11 to 16 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Abdominal Pain, Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Magnet Assisted Capsule Endoscopy
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 9 Mar 2022to 14 Feb 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 11 to 16 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Abdominal pain requiring investigation by OGD
- Participant must be willing to undergo both procedures (i.e. ingestion of the capsule and standard of care Oesophago-gastro duodenoscopy (OGD)
- Age 11-16 years inclusive
Who cannot join
- Dysphagia
- Inability to swallow capsule
- Small bowel stricture
- Disease associated with small bowel stricturing (Crohn's disease, previous small bowel surgery, previous abdominal or pelvic radiation therapy, long term daily (>6 months) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption)
- Pacemaker or other implantable electrical cardiac or neurological device
- Unable to speak English
- Participants who are pregnant or who have implantable electronic devices cannot take part in the study. Depending on their age and pubertal status the female patients will be offered a pregnancy test prior to any examinations. Capsule endoscopy is not advised during pregnancy.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
Sheffield Childrens NHS FT
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TH
About this study
Official title: Feasibility and Acceptability of Robot-controlled Magnet-Assisted Capsule Endoscopy Compared to Conventional Endoscopy of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract in Children
Examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach and duodenum) involves passing a flexible tubular endoscope through the mouth into the stomach. It is commonly performed to identify the cause of abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea and anaemia. As it is an invasive and uncomfortable test, it is usually performed under general anaesthetic in children. However, children and their parents worry about the nature of the procedure which does incur a small risk of both the anaesthetic and the endoscopy.
A capsule endoscope is a large pill-sized device containing a battery powered camera which can be swallowed. It was first devised to examine the small bowel (which begins with the duodenum and ends in the colon or large bowel) which is difficult to reach with conventional endoscopes and has been used in children aged over eight years since at least 2005. It is extremely well tolerated. However, it does not provide a comprehensive view of the whole surface area of the stomach which has a convoluted shape, large volume and is collapsed in the fasted state.
Recent research in adults shows that a capsule can be steered around a water-filled stomach using two joysticks to control the polarity and distance of an external robot magnet from the patient. This is much better tolerated and appears to be almost as good a diagnostic tool as conventional endoscopy. It has yet to be studied in children. We intend to compare patient acceptability of capsule endoscopy and gastroscopy and see if it is cost effective.
Read the detailed description
A capsule endoscope is a swallowable pill camera (26x11mm) which images the GI tract as it passes through under the action of peristalsis. It is a non-invasive test which does not require sedation or general anaesthesia. It was originally designed to image the small bowel, which is inaccessible to conventional endoscopy, and was subsequently adapted for use in the colon by the addition of a second camera (one at each end of the device) and a higher frame acquisition rate. The unusual configuration of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum, the capacious and non-uniform shape of the stomach and the fact that it is collapsed in the fasted state presented barriers to extending examination to the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, recent studies in adult patients with anaemia, suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding and dyspepsia suggest that capsules which are steered around the stomach in swallowed water using external magnets achieve comparable diagnostic yields to OGD. Control is achieved using a magnet suspended above the patient who is recumbent on an examination couch. The examiner manipulates two joysticks to alter the polarity of the magnet and its distance from the patient to steer the capsule around whilst conducting a live inspection of the stomach on a computer monitor. An additional benefit is that the small bowel can be examined following passage of the capsule through the stomach, which further improves the diagnostic yield.
Studies in the adult population suggest that capsule endoscopy of small bowel, colon and upper gastrointestinal tract is much better tolerated than conventional (invasive) endoscopy. Capsule endoscopy is a recommended investigation for suspected small bowel disease in children over the age of two years. Young children may need a small bowel capsule to be delivered endoscopically, but 85- 90% of children of over eight years of age are able to swallow it with water and 82% of 28 children expressed a preference for capsule endoscopy over conventional endoscopy (done under deep sedation or general anaesthesia) in one study. Magnetically controlled upper GI capsule endoscopy may offer a better tolerated, more acceptable alternative to OGD in children. Secondly, the ability to provide upper GI imaging without general anaesthetic may be a more cost-effective approach. Finally, such a non-invasive diagnostic tool could be used as a near-patient test, performed in the patients' community rather than an acute hospital setting.
This study proposes comparing patient acceptability and cost-effectiveness of capsule endoscopy compared to OGD in children.
The joystick-controlled robot magnet used for upper GI capsule endoscopy is on the Clinical Investigation Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, where it is being used in clinical trials and routine clinical practice in adults. It was the first of four systems (two in France and one in Hungary) to be installed outside of China.
- Conditions
- Abdominal Pain, Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms
- Being tested
- Magnet Assisted Capsule Endoscopy
- Keywords
- Upper GI endoscopy
- Medical subject headings
- Abdominal Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Magnet Assisted Capsule EndoscopyDiagnostic test
Procedures will be performed in the morning after an overnight fast. Patients wear a belt containing sensors and a data recorder. The patient will be asked to drink 500-1000ml (containing 80mg simethicone; volume depending on tolerance) immediately before swallowing the capsule. Gastric examination will proceed as previously described for a robot-controlled magnetic assisted capsule endoscopy. The whole procedure is anticipated to take 30-60 minutes. The patient will be discharged from hospital on completion of gastric examination but if clinically indicated will wear the belt for small bowel capsule study for eight hours to allow small bowel examination before detaching the equipment and returning it the following day. On completion of examination, the patient will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their capsule endoscopy experience. The full study (upper GI tract and small bowel) will then be downloaded onto the computer for formal reading and reporting.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patient undergoing upper Gi endoscopy | Experimental | Children attending Sheffield Childrens' Hospital Gastroenterology out-patients departments between the ages of 11-16 years of age who require OGD to investigate abdominal pain or discomfort will be invited to take part in the study.
Interventions
The study will begin when capsule endoscopy is performed by a Clinical Research Fellow at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Receives: Diagnostic Test: Magnet Assisted Capsule Endoscopy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Acceptability of upper GI capsule endoscopy
Compare acceptability of upper GI capsule endoscopy and OGD in children using UPC questionnaire.
Measured: One year
Secondary outcomes (2)
Diagnostic Yield
Compare diagnostic yield of upper GI capsule endoscopy and OGD in children
Measured: One year
Prevalence of small bowel pathology
Determine the prevalence of small bowel pathology as a cause for abdominal pain in children.
Measured: One year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Sep 2023
- Study start9 Mar 2022
- Primary completion14 Feb 2025
- Study completion14 Feb 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Abdominal PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Shishu Sharma, Study chair, Sheffield Childrens NHS FT
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06030518
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SCH-2497
- Acronym
- MACE
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Sep 2022
- Last updated
- 10 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Feasibility and Acceptability of Robot-controlled Magnet-Assisted Capsule Endoscopy Compared to Conventional Endoscopy of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract in Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06030518
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MACE / SCH-2497
- Conditions
- Abdominal Pain, Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms
- Keywords
- Upper GI endoscopy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation TrustUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 9 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 14 Feb 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach and duodenum) involves passing a flexible tubular endoscope through the mouth into the stomach. It is commonly performed to identify the cause of abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea and anaemia. As it is an invasive and uncomfortable test, it is usually performed under general anaesthetic in children. However, children and their parents worry about the nature of the procedure which does incur a small risk of both the anaesthetic and the endoscopy.
A capsule endoscope is a large pill-sized device containing a battery powered camera which can be swallowed. It was first devised to examine the small bowel (which begins with the duodenum and ends in the colon or large bowel) which is difficult to reach with conventional endoscopes and has been used in children aged over eight years since at least 2005. It is extremely well tolerated. However, it does not provide a comprehensive view of the whole surface area of the stomach which has a convoluted shape, large volume and is collapsed in the fasted state.
Recent research in adults shows that a capsule can be steered around a water-filled stomach using two joysticks to control the polarity and distance of an external robot magnet from the patient. This is much better tolerated and appears to be almost as good a diagnostic tool as conventional endoscopy. It has yet to be studied in children. We intend to compare patient acceptability of capsule endoscopy and gastroscopy and see if it is cost effective.
Detailed description
A capsule endoscope is a swallowable pill camera (26x11mm) which images the GI tract as it passes through under the action of peristalsis. It is a non-invasive test which does not require sedation or general anaesthesia. It was originally designed to image the small bowel, which is inaccessible to conventional endoscopy, and was subsequently adapted for use in the colon by the addition of a second camera (one at each end of the device) and a higher frame acquisition rate. The unusual configuration of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum, the capacious and non-uniform shape of the stomach and the fact that it is collapsed in the fasted state presented barriers to extending examination to the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, recent studies in adult patients with anaemia, suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding and dyspepsia suggest that capsules which are steered around the stomach in swallowed water using external magnets achieve comparable diagnostic yields to OGD. Control is achieved using a magnet suspended above the patient who is recumbent on an examination couch. The examiner manipulates two joysticks to alter the polarity of the magnet and its distance from the patient to steer the capsule around whilst conducting a live inspection of the stomach on a computer monitor. An additional benefit is that the small bowel can be examined following passage of the capsule through the stomach, which further improves the diagnostic yield.
Studies in the adult population suggest that capsule endoscopy of small bowel, colon and upper gastrointestinal tract is much better tolerated than conventional (invasive) endoscopy. Capsule endoscopy is a recommended investigation for suspected small bowel disease in children over the age of two years. Young children may need a small bowel capsule to be delivered endoscopically, but 85- 90% of children of over eight years of age are able to swallow it with water and 82% of 28 children expressed a preference for capsule endoscopy over conventional endoscopy (done under deep sedation or general anaesthesia) in one study. Magnetically controlled upper GI capsule endoscopy may offer a better tolerated, more acceptable alternative to OGD in children. Secondly, the ability to provide upper GI imaging without general anaesthetic may be a more cost-effective approach. Finally, such a non-invasive diagnostic tool could be used as a near-patient test, performed in the patients' community rather than an acute hospital setting.
This study proposes comparing patient acceptability and cost-effectiveness of capsule endoscopy compared to OGD in children.
The joystick-controlled robot magnet used for upper GI capsule endoscopy is on the Clinical Investigation Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, where it is being used in clinical trials and routine clinical practice in adults. It was the first of four systems (two in France and one in Hungary) to be installed outside of China.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patient undergoing upper Gi endoscopy | Experimental | Diagnostic Test: Magnet Assisted Capsule EndoscopyChildren attending Sheffield Childrens' Hospital Gastroenterology out-patients departments between the ages of 11-16 years of age who require OGD to investigate abdominal pain or discomfort will be invited to take part in the study. Interventions The study will begin when capsule endoscopy is performed by a Clinical Research Fellow at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 11 to 16 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Abdominal pain requiring investigation by OGD
- Participant must be willing to undergo both procedures (i.e. ingestion of the capsule and standard of care Oesophago-gastro duodenoscopy (OGD)
- Age 11-16 years inclusive
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Dysphagia
- Inability to swallow capsule
- Small bowel stricture
- Disease associated with small bowel stricturing (Crohn's disease, previous small bowel surgery, previous abdominal or pelvic radiation therapy, long term daily (>6 months) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption)
- Pacemaker or other implantable electrical cardiac or neurological device
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Magnet Assisted Capsule EndoscopyProcedures will be performed in the morning after an overnight fast. Patients wear a belt containing sensors and a data recorder. The patient will be asked to drink 500-1000ml (containing 80mg simethicone; volume depending on tolerance) immediately before swallowing the capsule. Gastric examination will proceed as previously described for a robot-controlled magnetic assisted capsule endoscopy. The whole procedure is anticipated to take 30-60 minutes. The patient will be discharged from hospital on completion of gastric examination but if clinically indicated will wear the belt for small bowel capsule study for eight hours to allow small bowel examination before detaching the equipment and returning it the following day. On completion of examination, the patient will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their capsule endoscopy experience. The full study (upper GI tract and small bowel) will then be downloaded onto the computer for formal reading and reporting. | Diagnostic test | Patient undergoing upper Gi endoscopy |
Primary outcome
Acceptability of upper GI capsule endoscopy
Time frame: One year
Compare acceptability of upper GI capsule endoscopy and OGD in children using UPC questionnaire.
2 secondary outcomes
Diagnostic Yield
Time frame: One year
Prevalence of small bowel pathology
Time frame: One year
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Shishu Sharma study chair
Sheffield Childrens NHS FT
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Magnet Assisted Capsule Endoscopy in people with Abdominal Pain and Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms, run by Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Acceptability of upper GI capsule endoscopy (time frame: One year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Mar 2026.