Page 373 - Flexible Robotics in Medicine

366 Chapter 16

the endoscope is bent. With that, real-time observation of the interior of the human body
was made possible. The development subsequently moved on to video scopes, which can
convert images into electrical signals for display on a monitor screen, allowing several
doctors to examine the condition simultaneously [7].
Even though these current technologies allow doctors to view the patient’s nasopharynx to
detect for NPC, these scopes can only be used by a trained practitioner. They are not
designed to be used as a home-based self-administered steerable endoscope. As such, this
calls for a need for our device- the Pan-and-Tilt Scope, in short, P.A.T.S. Improvising on
the rigid scope as described above, our device allows for a range of viewing angle through
panning and tilting, which is equivalent to these three individual rigid scopes combined into
one. Coupling P.A.T.S to a motorized system, panning and tilting can be achieved using
four buttons to steer the camera for viewing of the nasopharyngeal region.
A few considerations on certain parts of the item have been made in order to determine our
design and approach. The main objective of the device is home-based, self-administered,
and steerable. Hence, we were inspired by the movement of eyeballs, allowing us to come
out with the idea of panning and tilting the device.
Therefore the task of this project is to build a home-based, self-administered steerable
endoscope for the surveillance of the nasopharynx region to achieve early detection
of NPC, especially for recurrence patients. The primary design considerations include
• The scope with the camera must be steerable, to allow the users a better view of the
nasopharynx region.
• Rigid/flexible scope: In current nasopharyngoscopy procedures, either rigid or flexible
nasopharyngoscope is used. PATS is to increase the confidence of patients in self-
administering the surveillance procedure by allowing a larger viewing angle with
limited movement of the scope and hence, less possible contact with the patient’s nasal
structures.
• Inspiration from eyeball: The inspiration for PATS came from the eyeball, where the
camera would be mounted at the tip, and the tip would be able to tilt and rotate like the
eyeball.

16.2 Device design

The primary purpose is to monitor NPC and it does not include the curing of NPC. Besides,
the focus is on a self-administered and steering mechanism. Therefore the current design
does not focus on the camera features, imaging techniques, processing abilities, and the
transferring of images. The scope of this device is home-based, self-administered, and
steerable for the surveillance of the nasopharynx region. This device allows the patient to