LiveScience reports today on a Smart Pill in development that may be able to take various medical measurements inside the body and transmit those to a computer on the outside for analysis. The device is used to diagnose gastroparesis, which causes a slow emptying of the stomach and can lead to serious gastrointestinal problems.

As the plastic-sheathed pill passes through the stomach, intestines, and bowel, it transmits critical diagnostic information—such as pH, temperature, and the amount of pressure in the stomach and intestines—to a receiver that a physician later connects to a computer. Included in the digital signal is the pill’s position in the body, giving doctors a clear picture of how effectively the stomach and other GI-tract components are pushing food toward the final destination.

It’ll be interesting to see how many other types of Smart Pills hit the market in the coming years.