Mediintech Launches Electric Endoscope Intion S in Korea

Mediintech has begun domestic sales of its electric endoscope Intion S after receiving approval from Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, according to ZDNet Korea. The device is priced at less than half that of the latest Olympus model.

The company has also obtained regulatory approval for Intion S in Thailand and Indonesia. It aims to secure US FDA approval by June next year, with European CE MDR certification to be pursued sequentially afterward.

Mediintech will carry out a six-year, 20 billion won second-phase national project with Seoul National University Hospital starting this year, with the goal of robotizing both of a physician's arms for endoscopy. The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute is also involved in its development work.

Production and financial plans

The company intends to more than double its annual production capacity of 200 systems and 400 scopes next year.

CEO Lee Chi-won said Mediintech is targeting a turnaround to profit in late 2028 or early 2029 and will pursue an IPO in 2028.

Mediintech has been developing what it describes as the world's first electric endoscope to compete in a flexible endoscope market dominated by Japanese companies including Olympus, Fujifilm and Pentax, a market worth 40 trillion won globally. The company reduced the scope control unit's weight by 40% compared to competing products and lowered the force needed for operation to as much as 20% of conventional mechanical types. Conventional flexible endoscopes require physicians to manually pull a 3-meter wire using finger and wrist strength, which can cause musculoskeletal conditions in gastroenterologists. Mediintech placed motors in the system body rather than the scope handle, securing patents in Korea and the US for driving a 3-meter wire with two motors without delay.