Endoscope repair – Most common issues
Top 3 Flexible endoscopes in India are Olympus, Pentax and Fujinon. No matter which brand, all flexible endoscopes are expensive and fragile. It is important to take good care and ensure proper handling of endoscopes. Despite taking good care there might be some common problems faced in using flexible endoscopes. The following are the top 4 flexible endoscope repair issues that we have come across:
Channel clogging – Air/water (nozzle or channel), suction/ biopsy channel
Channel clogging is the most common issue faced in an endoscope. Endoscopes have air and water channels to clear any debris near the part to be examined. Water is used through the nozzle on the distal tip to clean the lens and body cavities are insufflated with air for better viewing. Devices may be inserted through the instrument channel for obtaining biopsy sample, removing tumors, cauterizing bleeding lesions, etc. Suction channel is used to remove excess fluids.
If sometimes, the scope is not cleaned properly, the air/water nozzle may get clogged. Nozzle may be faulty or come-off. On the whole, if water is not shooting over the objective lens properly or proper air flow is not there, the nozzle or channel unclogging may need to be done or even replaced. Air/ water nozzle replacement or channel replacement is one of the most common repairs done in an endoscope.
Angulation issue
It is important for the bending section at the distal end to work properly so that it bends horizontally and vertically and provide the ability to view 360 degrees within body cavities. Sometimes, the bending section may become tight and not bend or bend on one side. Forced angulation may cause damage to the wires. Angulation adjustment / angulation wire replacement Bending section mesh or articulating section replacement may be needed if there is angulation problem in the endoscope.
Crack / tear in sheath
Wear and tear can occur due to prolonged usage or poor handling. A crack or tear can result in loss of air/water/ suction pressure and performance. Worse, cracks and tears can cause fluid invasion resulting in damage of video chip and lens. A crack or tear can injure the patient. One must be very alert about cracks and tears in the endoscope. A sheath replacement could be a costly affair, but avoiding it may prove to be costlier.
Fluid Invasion
If small leaks are found in bending rubber, insertion tube, light guide tube, body etc., anywhere on endoscope, this may cause Fluid invasion. If image quality is suffering – if you can see stains, clouding etc. it is a sign of fluid invasion. The scope needs immediate repair.
Other flexible endoscope repair issues
Other repair issues in flexible endoscopes – Control knobs or angle build malfunction, image or light guide problems are other problems found in endoscopes. Control knobs/ buttons may need replacement. Light guide illumination bundle may need replacement.
The light fibers are fragile and easily broken, hence endoscope must be coiled into gentle curves. It must always be handled with care. Accidentally dropping or banging the endoscope, may cause damage to the lens and all the delicate electronics. Never allow any bodily fluids or other foreign matters to settle on the endoscope or in the channels or valves. Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and sterilization after every use, so as to ensure proper maintenance of the endoscope. Finally, do regular check for rough edges, cracks and tears that may cause further damage to the endoscope as well as potentially be risk to patient safety.
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