The Aer-O-Scope: Proof of Concept of a Pneumatic, Skill-Independent, Self-Propelling, Self-Navigating Colonoscope

Aer-O-Scope disposable component. The disposable unit is composed of a rectal introducer, a supply cable, and a scope embedded within a scanning balloon serving as its vehicle.

(A) Optical head protruding from the balloon. (B) It is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor–based optical head measuring 1.5 × 4 cm.

Workstation with disposable Aer-O-Scope. A PC-based workstation with integrated interface for electronic medical record is operated via a control box at the patient’s side. The operator can choose various operation modes of advancement such as with a VCR, ie, forward, backward, pause, and stop. The motion is generated via an algorithm-derived pressure gradient across the balloon. The pressure in front of, inside, and behind the balloon is measured by pressure sensors and is automatically adjusted by a computerized algorithm. The high-resolution data from the digital camera within the capsule are received, processed, and displayed on the PC screen, as well as digitally recorded on a CD.

Radiograph of the Aer-O-Scope in the cecum of a human subject. The supply cable complies with the shape of the bowel loops without straightening them or pleating them like flexible endoscopes do.

Endoscopic photograph showing minimal mucosa trauma caused by the Aer-O-Scope.