Log in

PEEK

ENDOSCOPE: Portable Endoscopic Evaluation Kit

 

Member profile details

Membership level
2011-2012 Team
Project Thumbnail Image
Team Name
PEEK
Project Title
ENDOSCOPE: Portable Endoscopic Evaluation Kit
Design Challenge
Endoscopy is a minimally invasive method for physicians to screen, diagnose, and treat gastrointestinal abnormalities, including cancers, ulcers, and pollyps. However, due to the high cost and low portability of current endoscopic systems, this procedure in not available in low resource settings. Our project focuses on creating a portable, cost-effective endoscope for high resolution imaging, data-capture, and transmission in the developing world.
Design Summary
An endoscopic imaging system is needed in the developing world to obtain high-quality images capable of detecting gastrointestinal abnormalities, such as inflammation, ulcers, and cancer. Current endoscopy systems, priced around $30,000, are not affordable for developing countries. Furthermore, many systems are bulky in size and require many accessories, which greatly limits portability. Therefore, a low-cost, portable, and sustainable endoscope that produces high quality imaging is necessary for providing point-of-care screening and treatment in the developing world.

Team PEEK has the mission of developing a portable, endoscopic evaluation kit designed to fit the constraints of the developing world. In evaluating potential designs, we considered cost, portability, and power to be the primary constraints of low resource settings. Therefore, our device will cost less than $2000 and will fit in a small, carry-on suitcase and be powered solely by rechargeable batteries.

To this end, Team PEEK has developed the Globoscope, which combines a home-inspection borescope with three pumps for air, water, and suction. The Globoscope consist of a small, portable bedside table containing the pumps and electronics, a handle containing the movement mechanism, as well as a long flexible probe. The borescope utilizes a CMOS sensor capable of capturing high-quality images with a resolution of 157 µm. A single mode fiberoptic light guide transmits 400 lumens of light from a LED light source located in the table to the distal tip of the probe. Furthermore, an easy to use pulley system is integrated into the handle to enable physicians to maneuver the probe. In addition, three pumps for air, suction, and water are located in the bedside table. A siphon pump allows physicians to pump up to 10 ml of water per pump into the upper GI tract to wash away excess debris during the procedure. A manual foot pump helps physicians insufflate the GI tract for easier maneuvering of the scope. Finally, a manual suction pump can be used to remove any waste products in the GI tract.

Preliminary testing indicates that all three of the pumps have comparable flow rates to standard endoscopic systems for a much lower cost. Furthermore, testing of our imaging system shows that, while the resolution is not as good as state-of-the-art systems used in the U.S., which can detect objects as small as a cell, is able to detect a majority of GI abnormalities and is therefore sufficient for our needs.

In the future, the Globoscope will continue to be modified to further improve resolution and contrast of the system. In addition, we will begin the process of obtaining a CE mark, the European standard of quality.

The Globoscope will help physicians throughout the world screen, diagnose, and treat various GI abnormalities at earlier stages.

Last updated: 5/1/2012
Sponsors
Jim Davis and Janice Bucholtz
Department(s)
  • Global Health Technologies
  • Bioengineering
---
……………………………..
Faculty Advisor 1 - Name
Maria Oden
Faculty Advisor 2 - Name
Rebecca Richards-Kortum
 

Team Members

Award(s) and Recognition
3rd Annual Rice Alliance Undergraduate Elevator Pitch Competition: placed in the Social and Global Health Ventures category


Rice Engineering Design Showcase: placed 5th overall
Winner

Contact us

Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen
Rice University

6100 Main Street MS 390 | Houston, Texas | 77005

Phone: 713.348.OEDK

Email: oedk@rice.edu

Lead Industry Partners