Nebraska Engineering researchers develop soft robot to make colonoscopy less invasive

A team that includes Nebraska mechanical engineering researchers -- assistant professor Benjamin Terry, professor Carl Nelson and doctoral graduate Hossein Deghani -- have developed a "soft" robot that could make colonoscopy procedures less invasive, less uncomfortable and less expensive.

Deghani led the design of the robot, which includes a camera that is attached to a latex tube that is inflated with air once the robot is in the colon. The result is having a robot that deforms itself during the procedure, thus reducing pain and discomfort to the patient.

This device was featured in the annual report published by The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Office of Research and Innovation.