Development of a novel unsedated disposable endoscope for oesophageal assessment

Abstract

The dramatic global rise in acid-reflux has led to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) becoming the fastest growing cancer in developed countries including Australia. While upper endoscopy with biopsy is used to diagnose OAC patients, this labour-intensive and expensive process is not suitable for population screening. This study aims to design, develop, and implement an OAC screening approach in a high-risk population with potential to be translated into the Australian health system. To propose a solution to OAC, this active research follows a lean start-up approach. The first phase, “discovery/ideation”, is to consider the clinical need and requirements based on interviews with potential stakeholders: health professionals and hospital procurement officers, consumers (post-OAC treatment, at-risk group), an advocacy group and policy makers. The second phase involves developing a proof-of-concept bench prototype. During this phase, it’s important to maintain regular contact with clinicians to ensure iterations meet their needs and specifications. The full-term milestone is the completion of a minimal-viable-product and beginning pre-clinical testing. User testing involves medical professionals and patients, who will provide feedback on safety, functionalities, and ease of use. Throughout this thesis, we are developing an idea of a novel ultrathin endoscopy system, which alongside automated software can serve as an oesophageal assessment tool in clinic settings. This multi-disciplinary thesis is written in 4 main research chapters. Each chapter has been drafted individually and presents a unique discipline. However, all these chapters are interdependent and have been done in parallel with each other. Thus, the finding from one chapter influenced the others. As a result, we developed a portable, disposable nano-endoscope system alongside an automated software. This system allows for quick visual assessment of the lower oesophagus in clinical settings, and it serves as a screening tool for OAC.

Date of Thesis submission	2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Western Sydney University
Supervisor	Vincent Ho (Supervisor) & Jerry Zhou (Supervisor)