Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40520673›Full record

Articlenpj Robotics2025

A soft robotic "Add-on" for colonoscopy: increasing safety and comfort through force monitoring.

Viola Del Bono, Max McCandless, Arincheyan Gerald, Emma Capaldi, Johann Pang, Casper Muter, Mark Baldiswieler, Hiroyuki Aihara, Sheila Russo

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in npj Robotics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Multi-modal sensing in colonoscopy: a data-driven approach.IEEE robotics and automation letters · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Viola Del Bono *Mechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
Max McCandless *Mechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
Arincheyan GeraldMechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
Emma CapaldiMechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
Johann PangBiomedical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
Casper MuterMechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
Mark BaldiswielerMechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
Hiroyuki AiharaBrigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
Sheila RussoMechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 USA.

Funding

A Soft Robotic Sleeve to Enable Safer and Easier Colonoscopy ProceduresR21EB029154 · NIBIB · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · PI AIHARA, HIROYUKI, RUSSO, SHEILA · 2020 to 2020
$683k
NIBIB NIH HHS R21 EB029154
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Colonoscopy is vital for diagnosing colorectal cancer, but limitations in instrument dexterity and sensor feedback can affect safety and patient comfort. We propose a disposable soft robotic "add-on" that attaches to existing endoscopic tools, enhancing safety without requiring custom instruments or workflow changes. The robot features soft optical sensors for 3D shape detection and force monitoring. If excessive force is detected, soft actuators redistribute pressure. A graphical interface provides real-time force data alongside the endoscope camera view. Validation experiments show accurate 3D shape reconstruction (8.51% curvature error, 9.67% orientation error) and force estimation up to 6 N with 3.38% accuracy. In-vitro tests confirm effective force redistribution, while ex-vivo tests on a bovine colon demonstrate smooth integration with minimal impact on the user learning curve. In-vivo swine studies validate safety and feasibility, confirming compatibility with existing tools and minimal disruption to clinical workflows, ensuring an efficient colonoscopy experience.

Indexed as

Biomedical engineeringMaterials for devicesMechanical engineeringSoft materials

Identifiers

PMID40520673
PMCPMC12165838

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.