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In this paper, with the goal of addressing the high early-detection miss rate
of colorectal cancer (CRC) polyps during a colonoscopy procedure, we propose
the design and fabrication of a unique inflatable vision-based tactile sensing
balloon (VTSB). The proposed soft VTSB can readily be integrated with the
existing colonoscopes and provide a radiation-free, safe, and high-resolution
textural mapping and morphology characterization of CRC polyps. The performance
of the proposed VTSB has been thoroughly characterized and evaluated on four
different types of additively manufactured CRC polyp phantoms with three
different stiffness levels. Additionally, we integrated the VTSB with a
colonoscope and successfully performed a simulated colonoscopic procedure
inside a tube with a few CRC polyp phantoms attached to its internal surface.
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