Fatigue evaluation of a hand‐held device for the automated colonoscope

As knowledge about the colorectal disease becomes more widespread, an increasing demand for screening and high standards arises. This study focuses on the fatigue measurement of a prototype colonoscope that incorporates a holding structure to support the colonoscope and a hand‐held device that actuates distal tip steering. Experimentation was performed to compare the fatigue and learning curve of the prototype scope to a conventional scope. Fatigue was measured as a reduction in force corresponding to the maximum voluntary contraction of the left thumb and forearm. Results show that subjects using the conventional scope did not experience significant reduction in force in either the thumb or the forearm, while the prototype scope resulted in a force reduction of 17% and 16% in the forearm and thumb, respectively. Caecal intubation time and learning rate showed no significant decrease while using the prototype scope compared with a conventional scope to ensure the functionality of the prototype scope.