Gastric cancer screening in Japan still relies heavily on double-contrast X-ray imaging, commonly known as the barium test. Although widely used, the method can miss lesions, expose patients to X-rays, and may cause considerable discomfort. Endoscopy offers more detailed examination, but conventional gastroscopes are costly, complex, and designed primarily for advanced diagnosis and treatment rather than routine population-based screening.
To address this gap, endoluminal solutions, Inc., a spinout from the University of Osaka, is developing a single-use endoscope designed specifically for gastric cancer screening. Following the completion of a seed funding round in February 2026, the company accelerated development of a device intended to be among the world's thinnest and lightest endoscopes while retaining the image quality and insertion performance required for screening.
The project originated from research led by Professor Kiyokazu Nakajima at Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Osaka. Rather than adapting an existing gastroscope, the team adopted a zero-based design approach, retaining only the functions needed for screening and removing features intended for advanced therapeutic procedures.
Development has focused on the ultra-slim shaft, distal tip, control handle, compact image sensor, and illumination system. Multiple prototypes have been assessed by physicians for ease of insertion, image quality, and usability. The team reports that the system has demonstrated the technical feasibility needed for gastric cancer screening.
The slimmer design is expected to reduce discomfort for patients, while the lighter device may lessen physical strain on healthcare professionals. Because the endoscope is intended for single use, it would also eliminate cleaning and disinfection between examinations, potentially improving infection control and reducing operational demands.
The company is also exploring AI-assisted image acquisition and lesion detection, together with digital platforms for managing screening images and data. These functions could help standardize examination quality, support remote interpretation, and enable large-scale data analysis.
"Our goal is to establish a new screening infrastructure that allows more people to benefit from high-quality endoscopic screening," says Professor Nakajima, founder, representative director, and chief scientific officer of endoluminal solutions, Inc.
With four related patent applications already filed, the company is now advancing the technology toward commercialization.
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