Reviving ERCP: Medtronic’s Strategy to Spark Progress | By Raj Thomas, President, Endoscopy Operating Unit, Medtronic

Rethinking an Overlooked Corner of GI Care / Where Innovation Stalled and Why It Matters
Reviving ERCP: Medtronic’s Strategy to Spark Progress | By Raj Thomas, President, Endoscopy Operating Unit, Medtronic
Raj Thomas, President, Endoscopy Operating Unit, Medtronic

Despite being performed more than 650,000 times annually in the U.S.1, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) still relies on tools and techniques that haven’t significantly evolved in decades.2 For physicians, that means navigating some of the body’s most complex anatomy with limited visibility – and limited confidence. At Medtronic, we believe it’s time to rethink that standard. That’s why our Endoscopy team is focused on collaborating with forward-thinking companies like Dragonflyä Endoscopy to bring innovative solutions to market with the potential to increase procedure adoption and enhance patient care.2

A Collaboration Rooted in Purpose / Collaborating to Bridge Critical Gaps

This philosophy is at the heart of our newly announced strategic distribution agreement with Dragonflyä Endoscopy.2 Through this collaboration, we are bringing Dragonflyä’s advanced pancreaticobiliary system into our U.S. GI portfolio. The system is designed specifically to overcome the core procedural challenges of ERCP by enabling enhanced visualization1 and improved maneuverability1,3. These capabilities matter – not only because they can help clinicians do more during a procedure1, but because they may support workflow efficiency and procedural confidence.

Designed with Clinicians in Mind / Technology That Listens to the Operator

Dragonflyä’s platform includes a fully rotatable shaft1,3, a significantly larger working channel, and a compact scope profile3-5 – all designed with ergonomics and real-world usability in mind. These features allow for the use of more durable instruments3-11 and more effective tissue acquisition3-7,11. For physicians, this can mean improved navigation through challenging ductal anatomy. For patients, it may translate to improvements in diagnostic accuracy rates, stone clearance in a single session, and potentially better outcomes.2

Driving Growth Through Innovation / Advancing Our Portfolio with Purpose

From a commercial standpoint, this agreement is a strategic complement to our existing GI portfolio. It expands our capabilities into the therapeutic ERCP space while reinforcing our position as a leader in endoscopic innovation. It also supports our broader growth-through-innovation strategy – accelerating our ability to deliver meaningful, practical advancements that meet clinicians where they are.2

A Vision for the Future of Medtech Collaboration / Setting a New Standard for Medtech Collaboration

Ultimately, our collaboration with Dragonflyä represents more than a strategic distribution agreement. It’s a model for how we believe healthcare technologies should evolve: through close collaboration with the clinical community, a deep understanding of procedural pain points, and a relentless focus on improving patient care. At Medtronic, we’re proud to invest in technologies, teams, and strategies that raise the standard of GI care – and to help shape a future where even the most complex procedures are more intuitive, effective, and rewarding for the people who perform them. Because when innovation starts with the physician, it ends with better care.

  1. Dragonfly Medical. Dragonfly Pancreaticobiliary Scope System Marketing Claims Evidence Report. Dragonfly Medical; 2025. Data on file. Accessed April 3, 2025.
  2. Medtronic announces distribution agreement with Dragonfly™ Endoscopy, expanding innovation in pancreaticobiliary endoscopy. Medtronic; 2025. Available at: https://news.medtronic.com/Medtronic-announces-distribution-agreement-with-Dragonfly-TM-Endoscopy,-expanding-innovation-in-pancreaticobiliary-endoscopy. Accessed May 2, 2025.
  3. DFE-IFU-000678 (A) Dragonfly pancreaticobiliary scope IFU. West Valley City, UT: CenterPoint Systems; 2024.
  4. Tiwana I. SpyGlass™ Discover Digital Catheter, SpyGlass™ Discover Digital Controller. Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Food & Drug Administration; 2020. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm. Accessed March 11, 2025.
  5. Boston Scientific Corporation. SpyGlass™ Discover Digital Catheter. Marlborough, MA: Boston Scientific Corporation; 2025. Available at: https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/products/single-use-scopes/spyglass-discover-digital-catheter.html. Accessed March 11, 2025.
  6. Boston Scientific Corporation. SpyBite™ Max Biopsy Forceps. 2025.
  7. CenterPoint Systems LLC. LUKE BX Single Use Biopsy Forceps Instructions for Use. 2024.
  8. Boston Scientific Corporation. Autolith™ Touch Biliary EHL System. 2017.
  9. Walz Elektronik GmbH. EL27 Compact Instructions for Use. 2023.
  10. Walz Elektronik GmbH. Endoscopical large stone management in Gastroenterology and Urology: Lithotron EL 27 Compact. Walz EHL Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy. 2020.
  11. Dryden G, Liu N, Liu D, Raijman I, Appling A, Shah R. Novel large capacity, rotating cholangioscopy forceps for improved tissue acquisition. Gastrointest Endosc. 2024;99(6S):AB677.

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