Swiss police have arrested several people after a controversial futuristic-looking capsule designed to allow its occupant to commit suicide was used for the first time, authorities said on Tuesday.

A photograph authentically shows a "suicide pod" designed for assisted suicide sitting in a Swiss forest, where it was used by a U.S. woman to take her own life.

The "Sarco" capsule is designed to allow a person sitting inside to push a button that injects nitrogen gas into the sealed chamber.