# A magnetic capsule endoscope for colonoscopy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $309,816

## Abstract

We propose to develop, optimize, and conduct first in-human measurements of our Magnetic Flexible
Endoscope (MFE) robotic platform that may provide a safer and more intelligent alternative to standard
colonoscopy (CLS) for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Patients with IBD are at increased
risk for colorectal cancer and therefore surveillance has been recommended to occur at intervals less than
that recommended for the general population. Thus, over the course of their lifetime, they are subjected to
more frequent CLS than their non-lBD counterparts, resulting in a more than 6-fold increase in adverse
events. The main risks of CLS are related to procedural sedation, patient discomfort, or perforation of the
colon from looping. Looping and mesenteric stretching occur due to the design of the colonoscope. Special
maneuvers can be performed to minimize looping, making CLS a procedure that requires a great degree of
technical skill and experience to perform safely. By using the proposed robotic platform, the endoscopist will
be able to control the motion of the MFE to perform navigation, diagnosis, and therapy (i.e. biopsy, polyp
removal/retrieval, injection) inside the human colon. MFE motion is achieved by magnetic coupling between
an external permanent magnet (attached to a robotic arm outside the patient's body) and an internal
permanent magnet (located inside the proximal head of the MFE). A small-diameter flexible tether between
the head of the endoscope and the distal control module (outside the patient's body) allows for passage of
commercially available therapeutic tools, insufflation, irrigation, suction/aspiration, and electrical wiring.
Employing magnetic attraction at the head of the endoscope, for advancement and manipulation, permits the
tether to follow passively-reducing the risk of mesenteric stretching or looping when compared to the
traditional colonoscope. We will leverage our experience and extensive preliminary results to test the
hypotheses that (1) intelligent robotic control and assistive autonomy in endoscopic tasks improves
endoscopic performance, (2) quantifying the portion of colon lumen visualized provides valuable feedback to
improve MFE operation and diagnostic yield, and (3) that the MFE is safe and successfully functions in the
human colon in a manner similar to conventional CLS. The investigative team, combining engineering and
clinical faculty, is uniquely positioned to achieve success of this study-collectively possessing expertise in
endoscopic device design, clinical CLS, assessment and validation of innovative gastrointestinal
technologies, robotics, magnetism, image processing, artificial intelligence, and translation of research-engineering
developments into clinical applications. Additionally, the investigators have a long-standing
history of close and fruitful collaboration including R01 EB018992. If successful, this approach will
demonstrate first in-human use of the MFE that reduces potent...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10769826
- **Project number:** 5R01EB018992-08
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Keith L Obstein
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $309,816
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-09-18 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10769826

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10769826, A magnetic capsule endoscope for colonoscopy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (5R01EB018992-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10769826. Licensed CC0.

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