Innovation in gastrointestinal endoscopy
Disruptive innovation in endoscopy pushes our team to imagine beyond the bounds of possibilities to transform patient care through minimally invasive endoscopic approaches.
Overview
Gastrointestinal endoscopy has experienced a rapid increase in innovations designed to improve quality of life for patients. Diagnostic and therapeutic device and technology development plays a crucial role in transforming patient care. Physician innovators draw from their daily experience to identify clinical needs and develop novel products and solutions. Recent advances in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy are third-space endoscopy, endobariatrics and artificial intelligence.
The mission of our laboratory is to advance innovation in endoscopy for the well-being of patients.
Led by principal investigator Elizabeth Rajan, M.D., the Developmental Endoscopy Laboratory has five main goals:
- Innovating and developing devices and technology to address gaps and deficiencies in the practice of gastrointestinal endoscopy
- Implementing new devices or techniques into clinical practice
- Evaluating functionality of prototype devices and effectiveness of novel techniques
- Designing and conducting studies for medical device companies seeking premarket approval or premarket notification 510(k) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including labs that are compliant with good laboratory practice (GLP) standards
- Offering education and training in advanced endoscopic procedures
Ongoing research in our lab aims to diagnose and treat the following diseases through minimally invasive endoscopic techniques:
- Colorectal cancer and polyps
- Gastric cancer
- Gastroparesis
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Esophageal stricture
- Obesity
- Gastroesophageal reflux
About Dr. Rajan
In addition to directing the Developmental Endoscopy Lab, Dr. Rajan is a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Rajan's research goal is to develop unique tools that improve patient quality of life. New and disruptive innovations can advance the diagnosis and management of diseases such as colorectal cancer and gastroparesis.