  Capsule endoscopes, predominantly serving diagnostic functions, provide lucid
internal imagery but are devoid of surgical or therapeutic capabilities.
Consequently, despite lesion detection, physicians frequently resort to
traditional endoscopic or open surgical procedures for treatment, resulting in
more complex, potentially risky interventions. To surmount these limitations,
this study introduces a chained flexible capsule endoscope (FCE) design
concept, specifically conceived to navigate the inherent volume constraints of
capsule endoscopes whilst augmenting their therapeutic functionalities. The
FCE's distinctive flexibility originates from a conventional rotating joint
design and the incision pattern in the flexible material. In vitro experiments
validated the passive navigation ability of the FCE in rugged intestinal
tracts. Further, the FCE demonstrates consistent reptile-like peristalsis under
the influence of an external magnetic field, and possesses the capability for
film expansion and disintegration under high-frequency electromagnetic
stimulation. These findings illuminate a promising path toward amplifying the
therapeutic capacities of capsule endoscopes without necessitating a size
compromise.
