Towards a single-use, low-cost endoscope for gastroenterological diagnostics

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Gastroenterology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Conventional endoscopes are expensive and require sterilization, posing infection risks and financial burdens, especially in developing countries.
• Early diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC), is crucial for improving patient survival rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, low-cost, soft, and disposable endoscope prototype.
• To address the limitations of conventional endoscopes in terms of cost, infection control, and accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Development of a hydraulically actuated soft endoscope with a disposable insertion tube.
• The prototype features a 10 mm bend radius, 180-degree bend angle, and a 110-degree field-of-view camera.
• Component parts cost under 200 USD.

Main Results:

• The disposable endoscope prototype significantly reduces costs compared to conventional systems.
• Eliminates the need for sterilization, thereby mitigating cross-infection risks.
• Demonstrates potential for articulation and imaging comparable to traditional endoscopes.

Conclusions:

• This low-cost, single-use endoscope offers a practical solution for widespread cancer screening, particularly in resource-limited settings.
• The device can potentially be adapted for screening other organs, such as the lungs and bladder.
• The proposed platform presents a quantifiable economic benefit and expands access to crucial diagnostic procedures.