Very recently Dr. Binmoeller and Endovision lost a dear friend: Michael T. MacLaughlin.
Mr. MacLaughlin believed, and his family believe in the mission of our Endovision Foundation, which is to cure digestive tract disease and cancers. Mr. MacLaughlin was a patron in support of Endovision, so much so, that Mr.MacLaughlin's family requested his friends and colleagues remember him by donating to our Foundation.
Mr. MacLaughlin's family requested Dr. Binmoeller present a eulogy at Mr. MacLaughlin's Celebration of Life Service. In doing so, Dr. Binmoeller was resolutely committed to remembering his friend Michael as he was: a wonderful man, friend, and generous supporter of the innovations made possible through Endovision.
Digestive tract cancers are the deadliest of all cancers.
But - if detected early - are also the most curable.
With endoscopic tools, through the flexible endoscope, from the inside.
No surgery. No hospital stay. Minimal recovery time.
Why Endovision?
Our mission: Promote and advance endoscopic technology to cure digestive tract disease and cancers.
Endovision offers an alternative physician-driven pathway for device innovation through a non-profit “incubator” model. Importantly, the non-profit model removes all potential conflicts-of-interest inherent to industry and investor-sponsored ventures. The goal is to provide endoscopists around the globe with an easily accessible, practical pathway to incubate "better way" ideas.
Endovision is non-biased, which means the value of the idea is defined solely by the potential benefit to the patient. Prototypes are generated by Endovision’s engineers specialized in the gastrointestinal device space and tested in bench-top and animal models to establish “proof-of-concept”. Once established, devices are licensed to industry for commercialization.
Historically, the main role of flexible endoscopy has been diagnostic. This is changing with the development of new endoscopic devices and procedures that are replacing surgery. The most exciting are devices that enable the curative removal of cancerous and pre-cancerous growths while maximally preserving healthy tissue anatomy and physiology. With early detection, digestive tract cancers - currently the most common and deadliest worldwide - can be eradicated with endoscopic therapy.
True paradigm shifts in endoscopic treatment are occurring, but these shifts need a constant infusion of innovation. New procedures require enabling tools. The traditional pathways for device development has been through either a med-tech “start-up” or an existing large device company.
Over the past decade there has been a steady erosion of both pathways due to changes in the economic climate of health care. Both start-ups and device companies depend on substantial investments (venture capital or profits from sales, respectively) for device development. Investment sources are dwindling. Only those innovations that are expected to generate a very high return on investment receive funding. This discriminates against innovations that serve smaller patient populations or have uncertain market potential. Because interventional endoscopy is constantly reinventing itself, future progress is threatened at its core.
Video of the week
Underwater POEM
(Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy) Developed by Dr Binmoeller
The Endovision solution
Endovision offers an alternative model for unbiased device develoment that is physician-driven and patient-centered.
Educating the general public
Promote appreciation of the high incidence and mortality of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and digestive organs and the importance of early cancer detection for endoscopic cure.
Training of healthcare providers
Disseminate the latest advances in gastrointestinal endoscopy to physicians, nurses, and related health care personnels. Find provider education opportunities here.
Support Endovision
Countless patients have benefitted from the advancements and we are determined to extend the reach to more patients, as well as the general public. Donate here.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a short list of our most frequently asked questions. If you have want to submit a question, post it here.
Endovision's Devices
Devices conceived or selected for development by Endovision
should meet the following 4 prerequisites:
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Novel: meeting a need not addressed by current technology.
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Simple: Design should be technically straightforward, intuitive, and simple enough to be performed by the community provider.
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Easy: Deployment of the device to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome should be easy and quick, ideally within a time frame of 30 minutes. Use of the device should be easy to learn without the need for specialized training.
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Cost effective: Endoscopic therapy should be inherently cost effective compared to the costs of surgery and hospitalization.