Ex Vivo Evaluation of a Soft Optical Blood Sensor for Colonoscopy.

Colonoscopies are vital procedures allowing diagnosis of colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases. However, excessive forces may be applied to the colon during navigation. This can cause bleeding, especially in patients presenting inflammatory bowel diseases.

A Soft Sensor for Bleeding Detection in Colonoscopies.

Colonoscopies allow surgeons to detect common diseases i.e. colorectal cancer, ulcers and other ailments.

A Soft Robotic Sleeve for Safer Colonoscopy Procedures.

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer diagnosis; however, limited instrument dexterity and no sensor feedback can hamper procedure safety and acceptance. We propose a soft robotic sleeve to provide sensor feedback and additional actuation capabilities to improve safety during navigation in colonoscopy. The robot can be mounted around current endoscopic instrumentation as a disposable "add-on", avoiding the need for dedicated or customized instruments and without disrupting current surgical workflow.