RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Eye Gaze Technology for Endoscopic Inspection of the Gastrointestinal Tract

This study is called 'Eye Gaze Technology for Endoscopic Inspection of the Gastrointestinal Tract'. It's looking at a new way to guide a camera (called an endoscope) that doctors use to look inside your stomach and the first part of your small bowel. Normally, doctors manually control this camera. In this study, the camera is controlled by a robot that responds to where your eyes are looking. This might make the procedure easier and more precise. Researchers want to see if this new eye-controlled robotic system works well and is safe for examining people. This is an early study involving a small number of patients (around 10) who need a routine check of their upper gut.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Imperial College London

Enrolment target

Start

01 May 2024

Estimated completion

01 Sep 2024

Cancer Gi

What is this study about?

Doctors often use a procedure called an endoscopy to look inside your body, particularly your digestive system (your gut). They use a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end, called an endoscope. This helps them check for problems like inflammation, ulcers, or growths that could be linked to conditions like cancer.

This study is trying out a brand new way to control this camera. Instead of a doctor manually guiding it, a robot will be doing the steering, and the robot will know where to go based on where your eyes are looking. This 'eye gaze' technology could make the endoscopy procedure more accurate and potentially easier for both patients and doctors.

The main goal of this study is to see if this new robotic system works effectively and safely in real people, after it has been successfully tested in labs. It's an important step in developing new tools that could improve how we diagnose and check for conditions in the stomach and bowel in the future.

Key takeaways

This study tests a new eye-controlled robotic camera for gut examinations.
It's for adults needing a routine check of their upper gut.
The aim is to see if this robotic system works safely and effectively.
Participation involves having your planned endoscopy with this new technology.
You won't have extra visits or medication just for the study.
Your involvement helps improve future medical tools.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for a specific group of people to take part. You might be able to join if you are an adult, aged 18 or over, and both men and women are welcome.

The most important thing is that you are already scheduled to have a routine endoscopy to look at your upper digestive system. This procedure is usually done if your doctor needs to investigate symptoms like heartburn, stomach pain, or difficulty swallowing.

However, there are also reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you have certain conditions like enlarged veins in your food pipe (called varices), active bleeding in your gut, or if you are very unwell with other health problems. The study also cannot include anyone under 18 years old.

Quick self-check

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you need a routine endoscopy of your upper stomach and food pipe?
Do you currently have major bleeding in your gut?
Do you have a condition called varices (enlarged veins) in your food pipe?
Are you generally well enough to have a standard medical procedure?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, it would involve having your routine upper gut endoscopy performed using this new eye-controlled robotic system. This means the way the camera is guided would be different from a standard endoscopy, but the overall procedure (like preparation, sedation if used, and recovery) would be similar to what you would expect for a regular endoscopy.

There won't be any extra visits solely for the study beyond your scheduled endoscopy appointment. The study will mainly observe how the new robotic system performs during your procedure. You won't need to take any special medication for the study itself, nor will there be long-term follow-up beyond what your doctor would normally recommend for your medical condition. The total duration of your involvement will be centred around the endoscopy procedure itself.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study means your endoscopy will use a new, investigational robotic system. Potential benefits could include contributing to medical science and helping to develop better diagnostic tools for the future. For you personally, the procedure itself is similar to a standard endoscopy, which helps doctors understand your gut health. As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks, though the new robotic system has been tested before being used in people. You will be told about any specific risks related to the robotic control before you agree to take part. It's very important to remember that joining the study is completely voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw at any time without affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Imperial College London
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is an endoscopy?

An endoscopy is a medical procedure where a doctor uses a long, thin tube with a camera on the end to look inside your body, usually your stomach and bowel.

What does 'eye gaze technology' mean?

It means a computer system tracks where your eyes are looking and uses that information to control something else, in this case, the camera inside your body.

Is this robot instead of a doctor?

No, a doctor will always be overseeing the procedure. The robot is a tool to assist the doctor in guiding the camera more precisely.

Will I feel anything different with the robot?

The procedure itself should feel similar to a regular endoscopy. The main difference is how the camera is steered by the medical team.

Who is running this study?

This study is being conducted by researchers to try out this new technology.

How to find out more

Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.