Greetings from the Founder
Bringing innovation to stomach cancer screening, which has remained unchanged for 50 years
New value created by our track record in medical device development and clinical experience
The world's first solution specialized in screening
Endoluminal Solutions Inc. creates new value in Japanese medical care through the development of innovative endoscopic systems specialized for gastric cancer screening.
The disposable endoscope (gastroscope) specialized for screening that we are developing has three revolutionary features: it is the world's thinnest, completely disposable, and extremely low-cost.While conventional endoscopes are becoming more sophisticated for precision examination and treatment, we are creating medical equipment that is truly suited to screening through "zero-based development," building from scratch only the functions necessary for screening.
Barium tests, which have been around since the 1970s, have already fulfilled their historical role and are now at a turning point due to issues with detection accuracy and radiation exposure. The number of people undergoing barium tests is decreasing year by year, and there is serious discussion about transitioning to endoscopic tests as a new screening method.
We not only point out these current issues, but also work to solve this social problem by providing a new screening method that is practical and easy to implement.
Expanding the future of medicine and the possibilities for surgeons
With 30 years of experience as a surgeon and 20 years as a medical device developer, I have a deep understanding of the true needs of the medical field and the importance of the technology that can solve them. This is evidenced by the track record of having launched 30 products into the world through the "ENGINE" project at Osaka University.
However, surgery is currently facing a serious shortage of personnel. With a significant shortage of surgeons predicted from 2030 onwards, it is urgent to show young doctors new career paths. By demonstrating the option of starting a business in addition to research and development at universities, I want to increase the potential and appeal of the field of surgery. That is my mission.
Now that Japan needs a successful example of a medical device startup, we will utilize our track record and experience to bring about a major transformation in the screening system, and then expand this Japanese innovation to Asia and the world.
Founder representative
Kiyokazu Nakajima
Kiyokazu Nakajima, MD, PhD, FACS
- Founder and CEO of Endoluminal Solutions Inc.
- Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Next Generation Endoscopic Therapeutics (Project ENGINE), Specially Appointed Professor
- Concurrent Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
Career
- 1992 Graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University
- 1999: Completed doctoral course in surgery at the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University (Doctor of Medicine)
- 2001 Chief Researcher, Department of Surgery, Cornell University, USA
- 2002 Instructor at the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital
- 2004: Chief of Surgery, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Workers' Health and Welfare Organization
- 2006 Assistant Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
- 2010 Lecturer, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine (within the faculty)
- 2012: Specially Appointed Professor of Next-Generation Endoscopic Therapy and Adjunct Professor of Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University
- 2025 Endoluminal Solutions Inc. founded
About the "ENGINE" project
ENGINE (Endeavour for Next Generation of INterventional Endoscopy), a research group at Osaka University, was established in 2008 as a platform for industry-academia collaboration to pioneer the field of next-generation minimally invasive treatments. Over the course of 13 years, the group has conducted joint research with over 50 companies, brought 30 products to market, and filed over 160 patent applications.
This wealth of experience and track record forms the technological foundation of Endoluminal Solutions Co., Ltd.
*For more information on the "ENGINE" project, click here
Affiliated academic societies
- Japan Surgical Society Certified Doctor, Specialist, and Instructor
- Council member, specialist, instructor, and certified surgeon for gastrointestinal cancer surgery of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery
- Council member, certified technician, medical engineering cooperation committee advisor of the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery
- Certified Cancer Therapist by the Japan Board of Certified Cancer Therapists
- Specialist of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology
- Full Member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) (FACS)
- Regular member of the Society of American Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
- Full member of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), Technology Committee Member
- Full member of the Asian Endoscopic Surgery Association (ELSA), Vice Chairman of the Asian Innovation Committee
- Member of the Surgical Endoscopy Committee of the World Endoscopy Organization (WEO)
- Innovations in Global Surgery Advisory Board Member
- Surgical Endoscopy Subject Editor
- Minimally Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies Editorial Board Member
- Other associations include the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association, the Japan Esophageal Society, the Japanese Society of Coloproctology, the Japanese Society of Clinical Surgery, the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy, and J-CASE.
Areas of expertise
- Gastrointestinal surgery
- minimally invasive surgery
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders and gastrointestinal motility physiology
- Clinical practice of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
- Development of new endoscopic treatment methods and related treatment devices
- Surgical education (development of endoscopic surgery training methods)
- Human resource development in the field of medicine and engineering
- Protection of intellectual property rights in the life sciences field
- Innovation Theory
- Establishment of a medical device development infrastructure (ecosystem)
- Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
- green surgery
- International standardization and expansion of medical devices
Performance (as of September 1, 2025)
Academic papers
48 English-language papers (21 of which are original papers), 65 Japanese-language papers, 7 English-language books (1 editor, 6 co-authors), 15 Japanese-language textbooks (supervised translation and editing)
Conference presentations
361 lead presenters (246 domestic, 115 overseas)
intellectual property
- Patents: Total number of applications: 160, Number of registrations: 62 (US: 9, CN: 7, EP: 8, JP: 38)
- Design: 20 registered designs
- Trademarks: 14 registered trademarks
Awards
- 2009 DDW Crystal Award, USA
- 2013 MEDTEC Japan MEDTEC Innovation Award
- 2013 Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Award Special Award
- 2014: Resona Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Foundation Small and Medium Enterprise Excellent New Technology/New Product Award, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Special Award
- 2014 Osaka University President's Award
- 2018 Ogami Award, Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery
- 2019 Ozawa Award from the First Department of Surgery Alumni Association (Kyusenkai) of Osaka University
- 2020 Good Design Award "Fluorescent Ureteral Catheter"
- 2021 Certificate of Appreciation for Policy Meritorious Service from the Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
- 2022 Japanese Society of Medical Devices Authorship Award
- 2023 Furukawa Medical and Welfare Equipment Promotion Foundation Award
- 2023 Best Doctors® Award
- 2023 Innovation Producer, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
- 2024 WILEY Publisher TOP Cited Article 2022-2023
- 2025 Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry MDF Medical Engineering Co-creation Award JAPAN Special Award
Competitive funding status
- 13 projects commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (3)
- 1 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology grant
- Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare research grants: 2
- Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare subsidy: 4 cases
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (6 grants)
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Exchange Program: 1 case
- 7 subsidies from the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
- 20 private grants
- Overseas grants: 2