Robotic, self-propelled, self-steerable, and disposable colonoscopes: Reality or pipe dream? A state of the art review

Robotic colonoscopes could potentially provide a comfortable, less painful andsafer alternative to standard colonoscopy. Recent exciting developments in thisfield are pushing the boundaries to what is possible in the future. This articleprovides a comprehensive review of the current work in robotic colonoscopesincluding self-propelled, steerable and disposable endoscopes that could bealternatives to standard colonoscopy. We discuss the advantages and disadvantagesof these systems currently in development and highlight the technicalreadiness of each system to help the reader understand where and when suchsystems may be available for routine clinical use and get an idea of where and inwhich situation they can best be deployed.