Article preview from Medtech Insight - February, 2013
Belgium-based Endo Tools Therapeutics SA is developing devices that will enable NOTES procedures to treat disorders such as type 2 diabetes, morbid obesity, and digestive tract tumors. Its Endomina device is a universal, multi-channel triangulation platform for use on any existing endoscope through the natural orifices, such as the esophagus.
Article preview from Medtech Insight - February, 2013
Belgium-based Endo Tools Therapeutics SA aims to enable natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) for treating disorders such as type 2 diabetes, morbid obesity, and digestive tract tumors. Its Endomina is a universal triangulation platform for use with any existing endoscope through the natural orifices, such as the mouth and esophagus. The single-use, flexible device consists of two therapeutic hollow channels that attach to a standard endoscope after insertion in the patient’s stomach. It allows for multiple small tools such as a small-tissue grasper, an electric tissue cutter, or a needle for a suture to be introduced and removed during a procedure, with up to three tools used at the same time. At the end of the channels, Endomina also features two arms that are silicon-enclosed and controlled via joysticks to ensure independent control and position reset. The tip of the device replicates the movements from the joysticks to perform remote surgical actions. In addition, movements are transmitted using mechanical wires in Endomina to avoid any electricity flow in the patient.
“We can make very complex movements – suturing, lifting tissues – in the patient, without resorting to laparoscopy or open surgery,” says Alexandre Chau, PhD, Endo Tools’ CEO. Both plastic channels are 3 mm in diameter and are inserted in the stomach before the endoscope, thus avoiding the size limitation of the esophagus. When closed, Endomina measures 20 mm in diameter and 1.3 m in length.
The three targeted markets for Endomina – type 2 diabetes, morbid obesity, and digestive tract tumors – represent yearly about 500,000 patients in Europe and one million patients in the US, for a total annual market opportunity of approximately $15 billion. The device received CE mark in September 2011, with US FDA 510(k) clearance expected in 2014.
Continued...
To read this article in its entirety, purchase now, as a PDF and recieve it immediately via email. Or get it free when you subscribe to Medtech Insight Newsletter.
About Medtech Insight
Medtech Insight newsletter provides insights into the technology and market developments (devices, instrumentation, biomaterials, gene therapy, tissue engineering, etc) impacting a wide range of surgical and non-surgical clinical practices.
Comments