Robotic, self-propelled, self-steerable, and disposable colonoscopes: Reality or pipe dream? A state of the art review

Table 4 Active flexible colonoscopy platforms with technology readiness level

Device name (manufacturer)	Latest study	Outcomes	TRL
Aer-O-Scope-GI View Ltd., Ramat Gan, Israel[21,59-61,63,64]	2016: Human tandem study, 58 CRC screening patients. CIR: 98.2%. CIT: 11 min. 87.5% of polyps detected. No PREMs	CE marked and FDA approved. Balloon propulsion model no longer manufactured	8
ColonoSight-Stryker GI Ltd., Haifa, Israel[65,66]	2008: Human study on 178 participants. CIR 90%. CIT: 11.2 min. No PREMs	FDA approved. No longer manufactured	8
Consis medical-Beer’Sheva, Israel[21,67]	None available	No regulatory approvals	3
Endoculus-Department of Mechanical Engineering & Division of Gastroenterology, University of Colorado, United States[20]	2020: In-vivo and ex-vivo porcine colon in one. Unable to traverse an in-vivo colon, but capable of negotiating an ex-vivo porcine colon	No regulatory approvals	4
ENDOO robotic colonoscope-Endoo Project, Pisa, Italy[87-89]	2020: Ex-vivo porcine colon human simulator study	No regulatory approvals	4
Endotics-ERA Endoscopy SRL, Peccioli, Italy[69-74]	2020: Learning curve study of 57 participants. CIR and CIT improved to 100% and 22 min following a learning block. PREMs: Mild or no discomfort in most	CE marked and FDA approved. Commercially available in Europe and Japan	8
Invendoscope-Invendo Medical GmbH, Weinheim, Germany (acquired by Ambu A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark in 2017)[21,77-79]	2018: Human study on 40 participants using the SC210 model. CIR 95%. CIT 14.2 min. No PREMs on this study, but previous studies reported lower pain scores than CC	CE marked and FDA approved. No longer manufactured	8
Magnetic Flexible Endoscope-STORM lab, Leeds, United Kingdom & Nashville, TN, United States[4,53,85,86,104]	2020: In-vivo porcine study. Clinical trial due 2022	No regulatory approvals	5

TRL: Technology readiness level; CIR: Caecal intubation rate; CIT: Caecal intubation time; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; CRC: Colorectal cancer; CC: Conventional colonoscopy; CE: Capsule endoscopy.