DOTmed: Tell us about this purchase. The new colonoscope, the invendoscope™ SC20 (manufactured by invendo medical and cleared by the FDA) is remotely controlled by the doctor, unlike the traditional colonoscope, which is manually inserted and controlled by the doctor. Because it is not manually pushed and pulled, the remote-controlled system transmits less force on the bowel wall and may allow for a more comfortable and potentially sedation-free examination.
Physicians at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, who began offering this option in February, are hopeful that the new technique will encourage more people to undergo colon cancer screening, especially those who cannot tolerate sedation or are otherwise concerned about sedation or potential discomfort.
DOTmed: Any final thoughts? In previous trials in Germany, where the manufacturer of the invendoscope SC20 is based, only 5 percent of patients undergoing colonoscopy with the invendoscope SC20 required sedation.
Why was the company and/or product best for your needs? The device is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia; it is being offered to patients age 50 to 79 who already planned to have a screening colonoscopy with moderate sedation and who meet other health criteria. As part of the trial, investigators will compare the rate of polyp detection with the invendoscope SC20 with that of traditional colonoscopy, to ensure its effectiveness. They will also evaluate other factors related to comfort, safety, and quality.
