Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer‑related death worldwide, yet participation in screening remains limited because many individuals avoid colonoscopy due to discomfort, anxiety, and the risks associated with an invasive procedure. Video capsule endoscopy offers a more acceptable alternative, but its passive nature leads to insufficient diagnostic performance. Magnetically actuated video capsule endoscopy aims to overcome these limitations by enabling controlled navigation and improved mucosal coverage while preserving the comfort of a swallowable device. However, current systems remain at an early stage of development and require structured evaluation before they can progress toward clinically meaningful testing.
This thesis develops a pre‑clinical validation framework to support the transition from laboratory‑based technical validation at Technology Readiness Level 4 to diagnostic‑oriented assessment at Technology Readiness Level 5. A simulated colon environment was designed to incorporate relevant anatomical features, height gradients, and clinically representative lesions. The existing capsule system was evaluated within this environment to examine transmission stability, navigation behaviour, and interactions with fabricated lesions.
The results show that interacting limitations in data transmission, magnetic actuation, and alignment control prevented the system from achieving the stable and repeatable behaviour required for diagnostic‑level evaluation. Instead of enabling quantitative diagnostic metrics, the simulated environment revealed the mechanisms through which these limitations arise and clarified the technical refinements needed for progression. These include conductive phantom materials, modular segment design, real-time localisation, and more stable actuation.
The proposed framework, therefore, provides a structured pathway for linking technical maturation to staged evidence generation. Although the current system does not yet satisfy the requirements for Technology Readiness Level 5 evaluation, the framework defines the pathway toward that stage and outlines the conditions under which future prototypes can be meaningfully assessed. This positions magnetically actuated capsule endoscopy for systematic progression toward pre‑clinical testing and eventual clinical translation.