Silicon Valley start-up Endiatx has developed a robot camera that can navigate the human stomach as an alternative to invasive endoscopy procedures.

For gastrointestinal (GI) care, the PillBot is a micro-robot that can provide a cost-effective, non-invasive method for GI diagnosis and treatment.

About the size of a vitamin pill, it provides live video transmission as it motors through the water-filled stomach. After the patient drinks water and swallows PillBot, a physician – who can it operate remotely – navigates the robot via an internet-connected game controller to scan the patient’s stomach. This technology reduces the need for invasive procedures, lowers costs, and increases accessibility to GI diagnosis and treatment.

Following the completion of clinical trials later this year, Endiatx anticipates FDA clearance for PillBot in 2025. The commercial launch in the USA is expected in early 2026, with plans for international expansion, particularly in developing nations where access to GI medicine is limited. The ongoing clinical trials have shown promising results, demonstrating its efficacy and safety in real-world scenarios.

At recent conferences, co-founder Vivek Kumbhari demonstrated live navigation of PillBot throughout the stomach of Endiatx chairman Alex Luebke. Kumbhari, who is also chairman of gastroenterology and hepatology at Mayo Clinic, highlighted how PillBot could transform GI care.

Four out of five upper endoscopies yield negative results and show there are no issues in the patient’s stomach requiring medical treatment. So PillBot could save many patients from the discomfort of sedation and hospital visits, while providing insurers with a significantly lower bill. This device could also optimise hospital resources for cases requiring further investigation after an initial PillBot screening.

Looking ahead, Endiatx envisions integrating AI to enhance PillBot’s capabilities, enabling systematic screening and acute care diagnostics. This could facilitate early detection of diseases such as stomach cancer, which claims approximately 800,000 lives globally each year. The AI-enabled PillBot could autonomously scan the stomach, analyse data and provide precise diagnostics, making GI care more efficient and accessible.

Endiatx’s journey began in 2019, driven by a vision to improve medical diagnostics through micro-robotics. Since then, the company has grown into a team of over 20 and has raised $7m in funding.

Endiatx (endiatx.com) believes it is at the forefront of a new era in medical robotics. By leveraging technology and a commitment to improving patient outcomes, it is improving GI care. The company’s approach combines engineering, AI and medical expertise to create offerings that are not only effective but also patient-friendly.