Soft Eversion Robots for Colonoscopy: Challenges, Open Problems, and Emerging Solutions
2026-07-11 • Robotics
Robotics
AI summaryⓘ
The authors looked at special robots called eversion robots that can move through the colon in a gentle way by growing from their tip. They compared four types of these robots to see how well they meet the needs of real colon exams, like fitting through tight spaces and bending properly. They found that it is hard to make these robots both easy to steer and able to carry tools without losing their soft, smooth movement. The authors suggest ideas for materials and control methods to improve these robots and point out problems that still need to be solved for medical use.
colonoscopyeversion robotpressure-driven growthcolonic anatomysteering mechanismpayload deliverycompliant roboticssoft roboticsminimally invasiverobotic design trade-offs
Authors
Cem Suulker, Thomas Mack, Qingzheng Cong, Neri Niccolò Dei, Reza Kashef, Mohammad Sheikh Sofla, Kaspar Althoefer
Abstract
Conventional colonoscopy remains limited by patient discomfort and procedural risks, motivating research into compliant robotic alternatives. Eversion robots, which advance via pressure-driven tip growth, eliminate sliding friction against the colon wall and offer a less intrusive approach to traversal. However, no existing design simultaneously satisfies all clinical requirements. This paper benchmarks four recent eversion robot architectures against the key anatomical and clinical constraints of colonoscopy, including colon length, minimum luminal diameter, bending angle, and working-channel needs. We identify the central trade-offs each design reveals, particularly the difficulty of integrating steering and payload delivery without sacrificing the soft, low-friction behaviour that makes eversion robots attractive. We then provide design guidance across material selection, steering strategy, and payload delivery, and highlight open problems for clinical translation.