A team of scientists led by the University of Leeds has built a prototype endoscope which is expected to be substantially cheaper than a conventional endoscope. The redesigned endoscopes could be manufactured for as low as £40 compared with conventional endoscopes which cost ~£80,000.
Apart from lower costs, the redesigned endoscope has more intuitive controls and does not require sterilisation between two procedures. The endoscope has a disposable portion passing through the gut, which can be discarded after every procedure.
The device consists of a hand-held control column and a disposable part made up of narrow silicone tubing and a tiny capsule that houses a camera. The tubing and the camera housing can be disposed of after every procedure. It is pneumatically operated and thus does away with the complex machinery of cables and cogs found in conventional endoscopes. Other advantages of the device are reduced requirement for patient sedation due to its smaller size, and a lower likelihood of tissue injury to the upper gastrointestinal tract as it is made of silicone. However, a key disadvantage of the device is the inability to perform biopsies.
According to the project leader, Professor Pietro Valdastri, the low-cost endoscope would be useful in regions with more basic health care facilities, typically outside of a hospital setting. It could help improve screening rates for stomach and oesophageal cancers in low-to-middle income countries. The project has received funding from the 'Global Challenges Research Fund', and researchers are looking to further investigate the efficacy of the low-cost endoscope against conventional endoscope in clinical trials.