Endoscopy Device - The Various Functions & Uses

One of the oft-used medical devices is the endoscope. This sophisticated piece of equipment performs a variety of functions. Surgeons use it to probe inside the human body and examine conditions. When it comes to diagnosis of different illnesses, this is surely a highly beneficial device. Besides imaging of internal body parts and organs, endoscopes also allow for obtaining of specimens through fitting of specialized instruments for examinations and conducting various tests.

It is possible to divide endoscopes into two main types.

• Capsules
• Physician guided

Endoscopic procedure types

A wide variety of endoscopic procedures is conducted in a medical capacity leading to high popularity of these medical instruments. It includes cystoscopy for urinary/bladder examination, rhinoscopy for nose examination, and colonoscopy for colon examination. Similarly, there is arthroscopy for examination of joints and amnioscopy for fetus examination.

Common applications

Doctors use the endoscope for assisting in different medical procedures such as taking biopsies, retrieving foreign items from inside the body when swallowed, and for diagnostic purposes. One of the best things about this instrument that increases medical device sales is the fact that it allows minimal invasive procedures. Doctors can even diagnose some serious conditions such as chronic diarrhea, internal bleeding, breathing disorders, and stomach ulcers, among others. They even aid in determining the cause of death as cancer.

Most doctors recommend endoscopy as the standard procedure for detecting such dreaded diseases as colorectal cancer. Medical practitioners suggest that every person over the age of 50 should undergo a colonoscopy every 5-10 years. If precancerous growths such as polyps are present in the intestine, endoscopes can remove them easily. Additionally, there are a number of problems related to the upper digestive system, joints, lung, appendix, bladder, and the ovary that can be diagnosed using such state-of-the-art devices.

Endoscopic procedure

Doctors either make the endoscope enter the body of the patient through an existing orifice such as the mouth or may have to create one for the purpose. A small and light medical camera is present at the tip of the device that helps in recording internal images. The tubes of the device are disposable ones to ensure safety from contamination of any kind. The patient does not eat or drink for at least eight hours prior to endoscopy. Numbing agents sprayed in the oral cavity relaxes the throat muscles for smooth entry of the probe inside. The camera present at the end of the device helps the doctors to see the path they are taking inside the body cavity for reaching their destination. Images from the endoscope can be seen on the screen outside for appropriate detection and identification of the problems.

Capsule endoscope

Another type of Karl Storz endoscope that doctors use is, of course, the capsule endoscope. This is in the size of a regular capsule containing a small camera inside. While traveling down the body cavity of the patient it takes 2-pictures per second. Images are transmitted wirelessly to a transmitter, which the patient wears.

About The Author

Neil Jackson is a medical device specialist who has been in the industry for more than a decade. He has been regularly following the leading medical device companies across the globe, especially the in the U.S. He has also authored quite a few articles in medical journals and loves to share his vast experience and knowledge.