Softscope Medical Technologies Inc.

Article preview reprinted from Start Up - July/August 2009

There is one variable that can throw a wrench into a gastroenterologist's endoscopy day; how long it takes to navigate a colonoscope to the cecum. This is a function of the tortuosity of the colon. Softscope Medical Technologies is developing two products; Tempo, for the colon, and Tempo SB, for the small bowel, to take some of the challenges out of the two procedures. Each product is a disposable propulsive assist device designed as an endoscopic accessory, configured as a short attachment that fits quickly and simply over existing colonoscopes and enteroscopes to aid advancement. Softscope's products work by a principle that the company calls Continuous Rolling Over Sleeve (CROS) technology whereby a rotating membrane tube helps propel an endoscope around and through the GI tract. The rotating membrane tube is driven by a mechanical rotating drive wire. According to Softscope, its devices don't interfere with visualization, tip deflection, suction, the performance of therapeutic accessories, or the overall "feel" of the endoscope. Read more...

Softscope Medical Technologies Inc.

Article preview reprinted from Start Up - July/August 2009

Endoscopic examinations of the colon and bowel, which are performed tens of millions of times annually around the world, have changed very little in the past 30 years. Great leaps have certainly been made in optics and visualization technologies, but accessing the colon or small bowel for cancer screening or to find the source of other pathologies still relies on conventional techniques of pushing, bending and twisting a serpentine scope through the bends and curves of the digestive tract. Indeed, these procedures have come to be known as "push endoscopy." Using today's technologies, once an endoscope reaches a sharp angulation, the physician must push and twist the scope in an attempt to regain the lumen. These techniques distend the bowel, causing pain for the patient and additional difficulty and time for the physician.

One new company is developing devices to assist the passage of an endoscope through tortuous, complex colon and small bowel anatomies. Softscope Medical Technologies Inc. is developing two products; Tempo, for the colon, and Tempo SB, for the small bowel, to take some of the challenges out of the two procedures. Each product is a disposable propulsive assist device designed as an endoscopic accessory, configured as a short (approximately 6 cm.) attachment that fits quickly and simply over existing colonoscopes and enteroscopes to aid advancement.

Softscope's products work by a principle that the company calls Continuous Rolling Over Sleeve (CROS) technology whereby a rotating membrane tube helps propel an endoscope around and through the GI tract. The rotating membrane tube is driven by a mechanical rotating drive wire. According to CEO John Schellhorn, Softscope's devices don't interfere with visualization, tip deflection, suction, the performance of therapeutic accessories, or the overall "feel" of the endoscope.

Schellhorn came to Softscope with years of experience in the GI endoscopy industry. He was the former VP and general manager, international, of innovative endoscope manufacturer ACMI Inc., and later, president, international for Gyrus ACMI after Gyrus acquired the company in 2005. Gyrus ACMI then became part of Olympus Corp., as a result of its $1.9 billion acquisition of the company in 2007. Schellhorn says, "When I saw Softscope, I saw a really elegant solution to the challenge of how to get an endoscope through difficult anatomy in such a way that it doesn't change the procedures, doesn't make physicians learn brand new techniques, and doesn't require them to replace their existing equipment with new capital devices."

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Companies mentioned in this article:

Given Imaging Ltd.

Olympus Corp.

Softscope Medical Technologies Inc.

About Start Up

No publication reviews leading edge companies and technology better than START-UP. Each issue of START-UP profiles the most important new product companies, identifies the hottest technology areas, reviews funds flowing into private companies and investment trends, and reports on university tech transfer licensing. Industries covered: pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical equipment & devices, and in vitro diagnostics.