• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Log in
  • Search
    • Search All SAGES Content
    • Search SAGES Guidelines
    • Search the Video Library
    • Search the Image Library
    • Search the Abstracts Archive
www.sages.org

SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

  • Home
    • Search
    • SAGES Home
    • SAGES Foundation Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Who Is SAGES?
    • Leadership
    • Our Mission
    • Advocacy
    • Committees
      • SAGES Board of Governors
      • Officers and Representatives of the Society
      • Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs
      • Committee Rosters
      • SAGES Past Presidents
  • Meetings
    • SAGES NBT Innovation Weekend
    • SAGES Annual Meeting
      • 2026 Scientific Session Call for Abstracts
      • 2026 Emerging Technology Call for Abstracts
    • CME Claim Form
    • SAGES Past, Present, Future, and Related Meeting Information
    • SAGES Related Meetings & Events Calendar
  • Join SAGES!
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Types
      • Requirements and Applications for Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Affiliate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Associate Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Candidate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for International Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements for Medical Student Membership
    • Member Spotlight
    • Give the Gift of SAGES Membership
  • Patients
    • Join the SAGES Patient Partner Network (PPN)
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Healthy Sooner – Patient Information for Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Choosing Wisely – An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation
    • All in the Recovery: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • Find A SAGES Surgeon
  • Publications
    • Clinical / Practice / Training Guidelines, Statements, and Standards of Practice
    • Sustainability in Surgical Practice
    • SAGES Stories Podcast
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Patient Information From SAGES
    • TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments
    • Surgical Endoscopy and Other Journal Information
    • SAGES Manuals
    • MesSAGES – The SAGES Newsletter
    • COVID-19 Archive
    • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Education
    • Wellness Resources – You Are Not Alone
    • Avoid Opiates After Surgery
    • SAGES Subscription Catalog
    • SAGES TV: Home of SAGES Surgical Videos
    • The SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program
    • Masters Program
    • Resident and Fellow Opportunities
      • MIS Fellows Course
      • SAGES Robotics Residents and Fellows Courses
      • SAGES Free Resident Webinar Series
      • Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Course for Fellows
      • Fellows’ Career Development Course
    • SAGES S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery Program
    • SAGES @ Cine-Med Products
      • SAGES Top 21 Minimally Invasive Procedures Every Practicing Surgeon Should Know
      • SAGES Pearls Step-by-Step
      • SAGES Flexible Endoscopy 101
    • SAGES OR SAFETY Video Activity
  • Opportunities
    • Fellowship Recognition Opportunities
    • SAGES Advanced Flexible Endoscopy Area of Concentrated Training (ACT) SEAL
    • Multi-Society Foregut Fellowship Certification
    • Research Opportunities
    • FLS
    • FES
    • FUSE
    • Jobs Board
    • SAGES Go Global: Global Affairs and Humanitarian Efforts
  • OWLS/FLS
You are here: Home / Abstracts / Semi-autonomous Robot for Diagnostic Colonoscopy

Semi-autonomous Robot for Diagnostic Colonoscopy

C R Welch, BS1, H Dehghani, MS1, Benjamin Terry, PhD1, Carl Nelson, PhD1, Tammy Kindel, MD, PhD2, Dmitry Oleynikov, MD2. 1University of Nebraska Lincoln, 2University of Nebraska Medical Center

INTRODUCTION: Diagnostic colonoscopy (DC) is recommended for all adults at the age of 50 for initial colon cancer screening. However, there is an ongoing hesitancy within the general public to undergo DC due to concerns of procedural pain and discomfort. Thus, there are efforts in the biomedical community to explore new ways to advance an endoscope through the colon so that patients experience less pain and discomfort during DC with hopes to increase colorectal cancer screening compliance. Therefore, we designed and tested a semi-autonomous robot for DC to increase patient comfort, and decrease procedural times.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The following criteria were used to design the robot: (1) easily fits inside an insufflated colon, (2) follows the natural path of the colon and does not generate intraluminal loops, (3) the force on the robotic head can be easily observed to avoid colon perforation, (4) advance to the cecum (150 cm) in under 10 minutes, and (5) mechanical and electrical components present no risk of excessive heating or friction on the colon walls.

After successful robot design the model was tested for robot mobility through an acrylic tube and synthetic colon in straight paths, a U-shaped path, and a sharp path of 180 degrees (Figure). Finally, the robot was tested ex-vivo in a porcine colon in the same configurations.

RESULTS: We created a robot which uses air and a long, rolled-up latex tube to advance the endoscopic device. As air is pumped into the system, the coiled, latex tube inside the robot head unravels and advances the device. The propelling point was maintained directly behind the head at all times, greatly reducing the risk of loop formation within the colon.

The device fits easily inside an insufflated porcine colon. There is no risk of excessive heating or friction to the colon walls based on mechanical and electrical analysis, and no colon wall perforations were experienced. The current prototype can advance 80 cm through a porcine colon, including passing one 90-degree turn unaided, and two consecutive 90-degree turns by manually assisting the robot head direction.

CONCLUSIONS: This study describes successful proof-of-concept development of a semi-autonomous robot for DC which provides the benefits of minimal loop formation, quick advancement, simplistic use and safe tissue interface. Further design modifications are in progress to improve colonic travel distance.

Figure: Experiment (A) through an acrylic tube (B) in synthetic colon in U-shape (C) through a sharp 180° path.

image

176

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Related


sages_adbutler_leaderboard

Hours & Info

11300 West Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064

1-310-437-0544

[email protected]

Monday – Friday
8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Find Us Around the Web!

  • Bluesky
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · SAGES · All Rights Reserved

Important Links

Healthy Sooner: Patient Information

SAGES Guidelines, Statements, & Standards of Practice

SAGES Manuals