Robotic Assistance Could Make Colonoscopy Kinder and Easier

Novel robotic assistance could enable non-expert users to perform a magnetic colonoscopy in vivo effectively, and makes the procedure less painful for patients, reports a new study.

Novel breakthrough has been made by scientists to develop semi-autonomous colonoscopy, using a robot to guide medical equipment into the body.

The milestone brings closer the idea of an intelligent robotic system that can guide instruments to specific locations in the body to take biopsies or enable internal tissues to be examined.

Colorectal Cancer Screening with Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is a widely used endoscopic procedure to screen individuals for colorectal cancer. It is very sensitive in detecting colorectal cancers.

A medical expert would still be on hand to make clinical decisions, but the difficult task of manipulating the device is handled by the robotic system.

The latest findings - 'Enabling the future of colonoscopy with intelligent and autonomous magnetic manipulation' - is the end of 12 years of study by an international team of scientists led by the University of Leeds.

Patient trials using the system may start next year or in early 2022.

Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colorectal screening is done using tests to detect blood in stool, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy ordouble contrast barium enema or CT colonography.

Pietro Valdastri, the supervisor of the research, said, "Colonoscopy gives doctors a window into the world hidden deep inside the human body, and it gives an important role in the screening of diseases like colorectal cancer. But technology has remained unchanged for decades.

"What we have developed is a system that is easier for medical experts to operate and is less painful for patients. It marks an important step in the move to make colonoscopy much more broadly available."

Colorectal Cancer Screening with Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Flexible sigmoidoscopy is an endoscopic procedure used to screen individuals for colorectal cancer suspected to be in sigmoid colon.

Because the system is easier to use, the investigators hope this can improve the number of providers who can perform the procedure and allow for greater patient access to colonoscopy.

Source-Medindia

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