title: Self-propelling endoscopes.
abstract: Self-propelling endoscopes offer exciting possibilities for improving access to colon cancer screening, safety of colonoscopy, and efficiency in endoscopy. From an operational perspective, efficiency in endoscopy may be increased or decreased by the introduction of a self-propelling endoscope, depending on the instrument's technical performance characteristics and capabilities, its safety profile, ease of use, the physician time required to review the endoscopic findings, and requirements for sedation, if any. In addition, patient acceptance of such new technology will be a driving force determining its potential for success in the competition for a niche in the diagnostic armamentarium of colon cancer screening.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Anschutz Centers for Advanced Medicine, 1635 N. Ursula Street, Box F-735, Aurora, CO 80010, USA. yang.chen@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Yang K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D020685:Colonoscopes; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods