Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1970

2001

  • Work on this object began.

2014

2025

PillCam SB 3

This is a PillCam SB 3. It was invented by Gavriel Iddan and manufactured by Given Imaging Ltd.. Its medium is acrylic, led light source, lens, battery, antenna, transmitter, imager. It is a part of the Exhibitions department.

Imagined by the inventor in the 1990s as a tiny vessel with a camera traveling through the intestines, the PillCam® now replaces more invasive surgical procedures. The patient swallows the single-use “pill” and light-emitting diodes illuminate the intestinal walls, transmitting images to a wireless data recorder. The data are downloaded to a computer and analyzed by a physician.

  • Sidewall, LED Wallpaper
  • machine-printed silver solution and led lights on paper support.
  • Museum purchase from the Members' Acquisitions Fund of Cooper Hewitt....
  • 2014-51-1
  • Purma Special Camera
  • bakelite (tm), acrylic, metal.
  • Gift of Barry Friedman and Patricia Pastor.
  • 1986-99-24

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

  • Ophthalmoscope And Case (Germany)
  • ophthalmoscope: velvet, metal, wood, optical glass; case: leather, velvet.
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, 314016.
  • 14.2012.6
We have 1 video that features PillCam SB 3.

PillCam Demo Video

An animation showing how the PillCam device works once it has been swallowed by a medical patient.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Tools: Extending Our Reach.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-3.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/35520949/ |title=PillCam SB 3 |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=6 April 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>