A Soft Robotic Sleeve for Safer Colonoscopy Procedures.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Robotics
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Colonoscopy is crucial for colorectal cancer diagnosis but faces challenges in safety and acceptance due to limited instrument dexterity and lack of sensor feedback.
• Current colonoscopy procedures can be hampered by inadequate navigation capabilities and potential for excessive force application.
• There is a need for enhanced endoscopic tools that improve procedural safety without disrupting existing surgical workflows.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel soft robotic sleeve for colonoscopy.
• To integrate soft sensors for contact force monitoring and soft actuators for pressure redistribution.
• To enhance colonoscope safety, navigation, and surgeon control during procedures.

Main Methods:

• Design, finite element analysis, fabrication, and experimental characterization of the soft robotic sleeve.
• Integration of soft optical sensors to monitor colon-oscope-tissue interaction forces.
• Development of soft robotic actuators for automatic deployment and surgeon-controlled pressurization.
• Validation of the system's ability to provide sensor feedback and pressure redistribution.

Main Results:

• The soft robotic sleeve successfully integrates soft sensors and actuators for enhanced colonoscopy.
• The system accurately monitors contact forces and can automatically deploy actuators to redistribute pressure.
• Experimental validation confirmed the device's capability to improve safety and aid navigation.
• A graphical user interface allows surgeons to monitor forces and control actuators.

Conclusions:

• The proposed soft robotic sleeve offers a promising add-on solution to improve colonoscopy safety and efficacy.
• Integrated sensing and actuation enhance procedural control and reduce risks associated with excessive force.
• This technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis.