MiFusion resection of eyelid tumor on 12 yr old Golden Retriever

MiSeal MiFusion resection of an eyelid tumor 

on a 12-year-old Golden Retriever.

For more information about the

 MiSeal MiFusion device

 check out our online store or contact us!

The Importance of Leak Testing Your Endoscope

     Many of the flexible endoscopes we receive here at our ESS Service Department can be attributed to fluid invasion. "Fluid invasion" happens when some part of the endoscope allows external fluids (i.e.- body cavity fluids, water, cleaning solutions, etc.) to get inside the parts of the endoscope that were never meant to come into contact with any form of moisture. Just about all medical endoscopes are designed to be water-tight so that the functioning parts of the endoscope (fiber bundles, CCD chip, articulation cables, wiring circuit boards, etc.) stay dry when being used during a procedure or soaked in water and/or cleaning solutions. 

Leak testing is the simplest way to help prevent serious (and expensive) damage to the flexible endoscope. Many manufacturers sell leakage testers -ESS, sells the ATT-Series Airtight Leakage Tester with connectors to fit virtually all makes and models of endoscopes. It is a simple device that uses air pressure to pressurize your endoscope to see if there is a leak somewhere in the endoscope. Most come with a "bulb" to pump air into the endoscope and a dial to measure the air pressure. Once pumped to the proper pressure (indicated on the dial) the needle on the dial should not show a loss of pressure in the scope. If the needle drops slowly or rapidly for a steady period of time, then you have a leak somewhere in your endoscope. If your endoscope comes in contact with some type of fluid (such as a sterilization or cleaning soak or a tank of water), it will be possible for the water or cleaning/sterilization fluid to seep into the internal workings of the endoscope and cause damage. 

Damages from Fluid Invasion can be as follows:

1. Fiber Optic Bundle Separation: otherwise known as "red crack", where the individual strands of the fiber-optic bundle separate and become unglued, giving the appearance of a reddish, spider-web patter (or the "red crack") across the view through your endoscope. The repair for this would be to send the instrument back to the manufacturer and have them install a new fiber-optic bundle-

which could end up costing you thousands of dollars!

2. Fogging: If fluids get in between the fiber-optic bundle or CCD chip behind the distal tip's optics (lens), you can get a blurred or "fogged" view through the endoscope-preventing you from properly viewing your subject through the endoscope. 

3. Internal Corrosion: When fluids get inside the endoscope, the internal metal components can become corroded and/or rusted. This will effect the operation such as articulation and the flexibility of the insertion tube. Most, if not all, flexible endoscopes have a braided wire sleeve under the insertion tube's outer layer which helps to protect the internal components that run through the insertion tube. If it becomes corroded or rusted, it's flexibility will be hindered. Also, the articulation dials move the flexible distal tip with a series of steel wires lubricated with silicone and sealed inside the insertion tube. If they come into contact with fluids, the silicone lubrication can become contaminated and prevent the proper operation of the wires. There's also the possibility they can corrode and break away from the angulation  controls - thus preventing you from properly operating the distal tip while doing a procedure. 

4. Electronics Failure: Fluid invasion with a video endoscope can be just as devastating. Instead of the fiber bundles, the CCd Chip that records the image from your distal tip lens can become damaged- think of it as dropping your smart phone into a bucket of water and then trying to use it! Probably won't work so well. The fine copper wires that run from the CCD up to the electronic circuit board in the umbilical video connector can become corroded and prevent the signal from getting through. Also, the internal circuit boards, both in the handle (for camera controls in the handle), and in the umbilical connector (for connection to the video processor) can become damaged and cease functioning. 

These can be very disheartening revelations for you and your practice/clinic/hospital. Having to shell out hundreds to thousands of dollars in repairs as well as the loss of the use of your endoscope, can cost you time and income-which is extremely frustrating when you realize it could have been prevented!

First thing you should do is BUY A LEAKAGE TESTER!

Click here to look at our online stores selection of ATT-Series Leakage Testers and see which one is the perfect fit for you. If you have any questions about which one is the best for you, contact us and we'll help as best as we can!

Once you get your Leakage Tester, the best thing to do is to get into the habit of testing your endoscope(s) frequently. They should be tested before and after each procedure to ensure the scope is maintaining its water-tight seal. The ATT-Series Leakage Tester is portable enough that you can keep it on your equipment cart and immediately attach it to the endoscope and test after your procedure is completed. Sometimes, when threading a biopsy instrument through the biopsy channel, the instrument head can get caught in the tube and make a tear during the procedure. The biopsy channel is a thin, polyurethane tube that runs down your insertion tube to the distal tip. If you forced your instrument through and think you might have punctured the biopsy channel, a post-procedure leakage test would reveal if that is indeed the case. 

PSK Presentation Video

Want to see how the easy-to-use PSK System is a 

more effective way to clean your endoscope? 

Check out these videos to learn more!

Want to know even more? 

Contact us or check out our online store 

for more information!

ESS Duo combination video endoscopy camera and LED light source

In this video, Tim demonstrates the 

Endoscopy Support Services

 Duo Combination Video Endoscopy Camera 

and LED light source for

 rigid endoscopy and fiber-optic flexible endoscopy. 

To learn more about this system, 

contact us or check it out at our online store!

Did You Know?

Endoscopy Support Services offers leasing 

for the products we sell!

When you need endoscopy equipment, it doesn't always happen at the most opportune time. Sometimes your equipment needs exceed your budget! Instead of straining your finances to pay for you new purchase all at once, consider leasing the equipment.

Endoscopy Support Services can proved you with leasing terms for one, two, three years or more, which include insurance on your purchase should it get damaged, lost, or stolen. This can provide you with peace of mind on your equipment, as well as your finances.