Surgeons today must choose between rigid endoscopes that lack reach and flexible ones that lack stability, limiting minimally invasive treatment in complex anatomy.
Dexterous Endoscopes is developing VISTENT, a single use variable stiffness endoscope that navigates safely in a soft state and becomes rigid on demand for precise tissue treatment. Based on EPFL developed fiber jamming technology, the project will finalize the design and validate it preclinically, aiming to make complex surgeries safer, faster, and more cost efficient.

During the funding period we will complete the engineering development of VISTENT, establish an ISO aligned quality system, and perform multi site cadaver studies to reach design freeze and prepare regulatory documentation. The project moves the technology from a laboratory prototype toward a certification ready medical device. By enabling surgeons to reach difficult anatomy through natural pathways, the device could reduce the need for invasive skull openings, allow hospitals to perform more procedures, and enable many patients to return home the same day instead of undergoing painful recovery.
The underlying variable stiffness technology has been studied for more than eight years at the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems at EPFL, and we believe the time has now come to translate this research into a real medical product that can benefit patients. Dexterous Endoscopes will continue development with clinical partners and prepare the device for regulatory submission and commercialization.