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By Jim Hammerand | June 28, 2024
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A version of Endiatx’s PillBot as of June 2024. | Source: Endiatx
Endiatx LLC is planning a pivotal trial for its swallowable, steerable Pillbot robot camera at Mayo Clinic campuses this year.
The Hayward, Calif.–based startup told MassDevice this week that it has already started its first in-human trials in New Zealand. Endiatx said that it plans to publish data from those trials and that they are “progressing well, and physicians appreciate the technology.”
The company added that it intends to file for an investigational device exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this year to start the pivotal trial, to be conducted at Mayo Clinic campuses. It also offered an update on its fundraising, saying it has already secured $7 million from investors and is working on a $20 million Series A round.
Endiatx co-founder and CEO Torrey Smith said the latest version of PillBot has new optics with a 160° field of view (see video).
PillBot Version 1.0 has a 13 mm (0.5 in.) diameter and wireless remote control so a physician can move the swallowable device around inside a patient’s stomach for visual inspection.
Endiatx envisions PillBot 2.0 as smaller, with 10 mm diameter and “AI-automated movement, lab-on-chip gut-biome analysis, further miniaturization, [and] AI diagnostics using large data pool.”
Later iterations could include surgical tools, Smith told Medical Design & Outsourcing (MDO, a sibling site to The Robot Report) in 2022.
Endiatx co-founder and CEO Torrey Smith with PillBot. | Source: Hardy Wilson for MDO
Endiatx partnership with Mayo Clinic continues
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic already has equity in Endiatx through a 15-year know-how license agreement covering the system’s development.
Dr. Vivek Kumbhari, the chair of gastroenterology and hepatology at Mayo Clinic–Florida, joined the Endiatx board in 2021 and helped Endiatx with cadaver testing at Mayo Clinic.
Most recently, Kumbhari presented a TED Talk in April with Alex Luebke, co-founder, chair, and chief technology officer of Endiatx, who swallowed a PillBot live on stage. That TED Talk went live just this week — watch it below:
Endiatx CEO to keynote RoboBusiness
Smith will be keynoting RoboBusiness 2024, which takes place at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Oct. 16 and 17. During the keynote, Smith will give a live demo of Endiatx’s swallowable robot pill.
RoboBusiness is the premier event for commercial robotics developers. Attendees will gain the latest insights from experts in robotics and AI on cutting-edge research, industry trends, and innovative applications. They can also learn about investments and topics related to running a robotics business.
With more than 150 exhibitors on the show floor, there will be plenty of opportunities and special events for robotics industry professionals to share insights, celebrate successes, overcome challenges, and more. The enhanced show floor will include new features such as a Robotics Startup Zone, an Engineering Theater, and more.
RoboBusiness will be co-located with DeviceTalks West, the premier industry event for medical technology professionals. DeviceTalks West attracts engineering and business professionals from a broad range of healthcare and medical technology backgrounds, including surgical robotics.
Editor’s note: This article was syndicated from The Robot Report sibling site MassDevice.
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