title: Design of wormlike automated robotic endoscope: dynamic interaction between endoscopic balloon and surrounding tissues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current design of capsule endoscope is limited by the inability to control the motion within gastrointestinal tract. The rising incidence of gastrointestinal cancers urged improvement in the method of screening endoscopy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This preclinical study aimed to design and develop a novel locomotive module for capsule endoscope. We investigated the feasibility and physical properties of this newly designed caterpillar-like capsule endoscope with a view to enhancing screening endoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study consisted of preclinical design and experimental testing on the feasibility of automated locomotion for a prototype caterpillar endoscope. The movement was examined first in the PVC tube and then in porcine intestine. The image captured was transmitted to handheld device to confirm the control of movement. The balloon pressure and volume as well as the contact force between the balloon and surroundings were measured when the balloon was inflated inside (1) a hard PVC tube, (2) a soft PVC tube, (3) muscular sites of porcine colons and (4) less muscular sites of porcine colons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prototype caterpillar endoscope was able to move inward and backward within the PVC tubing and porcine intestine. Images were able to be captured from the capsule endoscope attached and being observed with a handheld device. Using the onset of a contact force as indication of the buildup of the gripping force between the balloon and the lumen walls, it is concluded from the results of this study that the rate of change in balloon pressure and volume is two good estimators to optimize the inflation of the balloon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study will facilitate further refinement in the design of caterpillar robotic endoscope to move inside the GI tract.
authors.affiliation: CUHK Jockey Club Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.|CUHK Chow Yuk Ho Technology Center for Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.|Department of Surgery, Institute of Digestive Disease, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Carmen C Y
authors.initials: CCY
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: CUHK Jockey Club Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.|Department of Surgery, Institute of Digestive Disease, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Billy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: CUHK Jockey Club Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.|Department of Surgery, Institute of Digestive Disease, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Cecilia K W
authors.initials: CKW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: CUHK Jockey Club Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.|CUHK Chow Yuk Ho Technology Center for Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.|Department of Surgery, Institute of Digestive Disease, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: James Y W
authors.initials: JYW
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: CUHK Jockey Club Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. philipchiu@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk.|CUHK Chow Yuk Ho Technology Center for Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. philipchiu@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk.|Department of Surgery, Institute of Digestive Disease, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. philipchiu@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Philip W Y
authors.initials: PWY
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001331:Automation; D053705:Capsule Endoscopes; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract; D008124:Locomotion; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009038:Motion; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012371:Robotics; D013552:Swine
keywords: Capsule endoscope; Locomotive module; Robotic endoscope