Softscope Medical Technologies Inc.
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
There is one variable that can throw a wrench into a gastroenterologist's endoscopy day; how long it takes to navigate a colonoscope to the cecum. This is a function of the tortuosity of the colon. Softscope Medical Technologies is developing two products; Tempo, for the colon, and Tempo SB, for the small bowel, to take some of the challenges out of the two procedures. Each product is a disposable propulsive assist device designed as an endoscopic accessory, configured as a short attachment that fits quickly and simply over existing colonoscopes and enteroscopes to aid advancement. Softscope's products work by a principle that the company calls Continuous Rolling Over Sleeve (CROS) technology whereby a rotating membrane tube helps propel an endoscope around and through the GI tract. The rotating membrane tube is driven by a mechanical rotating drive wire. According to Softscope, its devices don't interfere with visualization, tip deflection, suction, the performance of therapeutic accessories, or the overall "feel" of the endoscope.