Diagnostic imaging, oncology

Invendo demonstrates sedationless colonoscopy

6 June 2007

Munich, Germany. invendo medical GmbH demonstrated a live screening colonoscopy using its sedation-free colonoscope, the invendoscope, in Berlin in May.

The examination was performed by Professor Thomas Rösch (Charite, Berlin University Hospitals) in the Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg (Oskar-Ziethen Hospital) on a 50-year old unsedated patient. The single-use colonoscope, the invendoscope SC40, was shown to an audience of about 500 physicians.

The invendoscope SC40 is CE-marked and hence approved for sale in Europe, with market launch expected in 2008. 

The invendoscope in useinvendo also presented clinical data from a pilot study of the invendoscope in a poster session at Digestive Disease Week 2007 in Washington.

The pilot study was a proof-of-principle study on 28 asymptomatic paid volunteers (12 males, 16 females, mean age 48 years, range 23-68 years), who consented to undergo sedation-free total colonoscopy with the new invendo medical device. The study was approved by the Charité Ethical Committee and University of Frankfurt Ethical Committee.

“Our pilot study with invendo’s new colonoscope — the invendoscope SC40 — was performed without pain in 92% of the cases. No sedation was given to any patient, and no complications occurred,” said Prof. Rösch, who is Chief of Endoscopy at Charité University Hospitals Berlin (Germany).

“These data are very exciting, because this new technology has the potential to significantly advance the acceptance of patients who should have colonoscopy but are afraid to do so, because they fear pain and have to be sedated. While further research is needed, of course, to determine if the invendo device will best serve the goal of a simple, pain-free, sedationless and accurate colonoscopy, nevertheless these early data are very encouraging.”

“Colon cancer has the second-highest incidence of cancers worldwide. It can be beaten if diagnosed early. Unfortunately, while colonoscopy is the undisputed gold standard for diagnosis of colon cancer, it has very low acceptance by patients. Indeed, only a relatively small percentage of the eligible population worldwide undergoes colon cancer screening. Given the dire need for improved acceptance by potential screenees, we are extremely pleased with the results of this pilot study,” said Konstantin Bob, M.D., Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder of invendo medical.

“There are several reasons for lack of acceptance of colon cancer screening, but certainly the pain associated with conventional colonoscopy and the subsequent need for sedation are what keep a majority of eligible patients from being screened. We therefore believe that our new device might play a major role in significantly increasing the number of persons who will undergo a colonoscopy.”

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