Endoscopy in Cats and Dogs

Are you concerned if your furry friend needs to go for some endoscopic procedure? 

Don't be!

Our friends over at VCA Animal Hospitals have

 put together these two articles about 

Endoscopy in Dogs and Endoscopy in Cats 

to explain what exactly is to be expected.  

Laparoscopy Procedure

Sales manager Rich instructing

 in a Laparoscopy Procedure.

Broken Scope?

Dealing with a broken or damaged scope? 

No need to worry- our ESS Service Department can help!

Getting help is as easy as 1-2-3!

1- Send It:

Ship your instrument to ESS using the ESS

 "Speed-Up" Repair form to describe your problem. 

2- Inspect It:

Our technicians will thoroughly inspect your instrument & fax you a repair quote with what needs to be repaired. Just sign & fax back the form to get it repaired. 

3-Ship It:

After it has been repaired, ESS will ship your instrument back to you with Federal Express. 

Contact our Service Department today to see how they can help you!

Helpful Hints and Information: Part 1-Helpful Hints and Most Common Damage.

Helpful Hints

1- Always wear gloves when handling/reprocessing scopes.

2- Leak test after every procedure. This is the single most important preventative measure in avoiding fluid invasion, which causes 8-% of all image problems and costly repairs.

You can refer here to our previous post about the importance of Leak Testing.

3- Rinse off solutions well. Solution build-up can cause external damage. 

Most Common Damage

1- Angle Section:

 Pinholes, cuts, tears.

2- Insertion Tube:

Pinches & stretching. 

3- Fluid Invasion:
Internal corrosion as well as breakdown
of epoxies and sealants.

If you find you have any damage to your 
equipment, don't hesitate to 
contact the ESS Service Department!

Pelican Endoscopy. Removal of foreign bodies.

This is an old video that we used to show at conferences.

It shows fishing tackle being retrieved with the scope. You can also see live worms moving around inside of the pelican's stomach. 

This video was recorded with a VCR, 

an old Olympus fiber-optic endoscope,

 and one of our older ESS Endoscopy Cameras. 

FAEP's 53rd Annual Ocala Equine Conference

Endoscopy Support Services will be at 

FAEP's 53rd Annual Ocala Equine Conferece

this weekend!

Make sure you come by to see what we have to offer!

Won't be at the conference?

Not a problem!

You can always see the products we

 offer at our online store. 

Overground Equine Laryngoscope Video Sample.

NAVC 2016

It's the last day of NAVC 2016!

It's not too late to stop by Booth 2200 to see which piece of Endoscopy equipment is the perfect fit for you!

Can't make it to NAVC?

Don't worry!

You can always check out everything we have to

 offer at our online store. 

Displaced Epiglottis

Equine Displaced Epiglottis 

NAVC 2016

If you're still at NAVC 2016, make sure you stop by Booth #2200 to say "Hi" to our team and to check out all the awesome products we have to offer!

Jim and Jimmy demonstrating some of our products. 

Swing by to say "Hi" to Jimmy (L) and Bob (R)!

PENTAX Reprocessing step-by-step

Brief Instructions for Manual Reprocessing

 from our friends at PENTAX.

(Please note: These instructions apply only for standard GI Endoscopes. For all other products, please refer to the instructions for use. Please see the instructions for use for your endoscope regarding which components may be brushed cleaned according to model)

Wipe insertion tube with a clean, lint-free cloth saturated with

 detergent solution immediately after examination. 

Alternately flush detergent solution and air through the suction channel.

Set the lever on the water bottle to "drain" and insufflate air alternately into air and water channel.

Clean any other channels (if present) with detergent solution. 

Disconnect the endoscope from the processor/light source and suction pump.

Attach the soaking cap on power supply connector. 

(For specialized devices, please use appropriate soaking cap according to your instructions.)

Remove all of the valves, the distal end cap (if present) and any further

 detachable components and submerge them in the detergent solution. 

Perform all further steps regarding reprocessing for these

 components according to your instructions. 

Perform Leakage Test 1- The Dry Test.

During the dry test move the angulation control knobs gently and

 rotate the ocular (if present) to see if the pressure drops. 

(If the pressure drops, discontinue Leakage Test 1, disinfect the 

endoscope externally, and contact ESS Service Department. )

Perform Leakage Test II- The Wet Test.

Submerge endoscope entirely in fluid; move the angulation 

control knobs and rotate the ocular (if present)

(If bubbles rise, discontinue Leakage Test II and

 contact ESS Service Department.)

Always disconnect Leak Tester from scope above the fluid surface. 

Brush clean all of the channels that may be cleaned with brushes using the appropriate brush under fluid surface, following your instructions. 

Start brush cleaning with the power supply connector.

Brush clean valve cylinder(s) and any other openings. 

Finally, brush clean the channels - starting at the control body and moving towards the distal ends. 

If there are cleaning adapters, connect them for filling the channels with cleaning solution. 

Remove adapter at the beginning of the exposure time. 

Remove endoscope and any detached components from the cleaning solution. 

Use the cleaning adapter to rinse all of the channels and 

rinse the external surfaces with clean water. 

Submerge endoscope entirely in disinfectant solution.

Submerge any valves, the distal end cap (if present) and any further detachable components in the disinfectant solution. 

Attach the cleaning adapter for filling the channels

 with disinfectant solution. 

Remove adapter at the beginning of the exposure time. 

Follow the manufacturer's specifications in regard to

 disinfectant solution concentration and exposure time. 

Remove endoscope and any detached components from the disinfectant solution

Rinse all the channels and external surfaces with sterile-filtered or sterile water. 

Dry the channels, using medical grade compressed air is recommended. 

Remove protective caps and cleaning adapters (if present)

Store the endoscope preferably by hanging it in a dust-free, well ventilated cabinet. 

Store valves, distal end cap (if present) and other 

removable components separately from the endoscope. 

Attach valves, distal end cap (if present) and other removable components. 

Inspect valve o-rings and change if they do not seal,

 moisten o-rings sparingly with silicone oil if necessary.

Connect endoscope to the processor/light source.

Perform functionality check.

Note:

Review the Instructions for further details. 

Only use approved detergent and disinfectant solutions and follow the instructions regarding concentration, exposure time and temperature. 

Steps 12 and 14 may also be performed with washer-disinfectors for flexible endoscopes. Washer-disinfectors may not be exposed to temperatures above 60 degrees C. Pressure for leakage test may not exceed 0.2 bar. 

(PENTAX Medical and Endoscopy Support Services, Inc. accepts no liablity for damages arising from improper reprocessing. Country-specific regulations must be observed. )

MiSeal MiFusion Splenectomy

A bloodless Splenectomy done with the

MiSeal MiFusion device. 

To find out more about this product,

 check out our online store or contact us!

Golf Ball Removal via Endoscopy

For more information about our Ratigator 

check out our online store or contact us!

NAVC 2016

Today is NAVC!

Make sure you stop by Booth 2200

 to see all that we have to offer!

Can't make it to NAVC 2016?

No problem!

You can always check out our products at our online store or contact us directly to see what we can do for you!

Tips on Proper Endoscope Handling.

Here's what you can do to help prevent damage in your equipment. 

These tips will give you ways to minimize repair frequency and costs.

Leakage Testing

Performing a rigorous leak test-both dry and wet- before completing scope reprocessing is one of the most important ways you can protect your endoscope from being damaged.
(You can refer to our previous post here to learn more
 about Leakage Testing) 

Handling and Transport

Your endoscope's lenses, cover glasses, and the distal end can be damaged if subjected to a significant shock. Likewise, control bodies and insertion tubes can be damaged from impact or excess pressure being placed on them. 

Careful handling and transport will reduce the risk of damage. 

If endoscopes are transported by hand, the distal end should be held in one hand to prevent the possibility of accidental impact. Also, endoscopes should be placed with their knobs up and never stacked. 

When it's necessary to ship a PENTAX Medical Endoscope, the original case should be used. 

Examination Room Layout

Optimizing the arrangement of the examination room can help avoid damage. In particular, buckling of the insertion tube and umbilical cable can be avoided with a carefully considered arrangement of the examination table, monitor, light source/processor and proper coiling of the scope. 

Storage

The endoscopes should be stored fully extended either freely hung up or laid down in a cabinet designed to hold flexible endoscopes. This prevents deformation or kinking damage and also allows the scope to drain.
(Check out the storage selection on our online store to see which one is the right fit for you!)

Accessories

Forceps, brushes, adapter, water bottles, o-rings, and all valves should be regularly examined for imperfections. Damaged equipment may scratch or perforate the endoscope's channels/ports.

Lubricants

Lubricants containing paraffin or Vaseline are unsuitable for PENTAX endoscopes. Lubricants of this type attack the surfaces of the tubing or the bending rubber. You can avoid deposits by carefully removing lubricant residues prior to disinfection or cleaning. 

If you have any questions about these tips, 

or want to know more, 

contact us!

Throwback Thursday!

Throwback to past NAVC Conferences!

Make sure to stop by Booth 2200 at

 NAVC 2016 this week to see all that

 we have to offer!

Rich at our booth in 2015

Jimmy demonstrating our All-In-One Video Endoscopy System

Our booth at NAVC 2007

NAVC 2009

Can't make it to the show?

You can always check out our products at

 our online store or contact us directly!

Endoscopic removal of a Eucerin tube from a canine patient.

In this video, we removed a pocket sized tube 

of lotion from a 15 lb dog using 

the Ratigator Grasper 

and the Olympus Endoscope System. 

For more information about these products, 

check out our online store or contact us!

NAVC 2016

Are you going to NAVC next week?

Make sure to stop by Booth 2200 

to check out what we have to offer!

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.

Happy New Year

All of us at 
Endoscopy Support Services 

wish you all a very happy and healthy 

New Year!

Reminder!

Just a reminder! Our office will be closed Thursday Dec. 31st and Friday Jan. 1st due to the holiday.

Have a Happy and Safe Holiday!

Pericardectomy in a canine patient - USB iCap Camera

This video shows a partial Pericardectomy 
in a canine patient using the 
Endoscopy Support Services

 USB Laparoscopic/Thoracoscopic set and the

MiSeal tissue sealing and dividing device. 

This video was recorded with the

iCap USB Digital Endoscopy Camera. 

Find out more about any of these products

 at our online store!

ESS Veterinary Videoscope - Colonoscopy

This video shows a colonoscopy on a feline
 patient using the HVP-2100 Video System. 

This footage demonstrates the high video quality
 of  the ESS Small Animal Endoscope.

The video was recorded with the 
iCap Image and Video Capture System.

To learn more about our products, 
check out our online store!

Habari Gani?

A Very Joyous Kwanzaa to those that celebrate!

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas from our family at Endoscopy Support Services!

Reminder!

Our office will be closed Thursday Dec. 24th and Friday Dec. 25th due to the Holiday.

Have a Happy and Safe weekend!

A Festivus for the rest of us!

A very Happy Festivus from our family at 

Endoscopy Support Services to yours!

Enjoy sitting around your aluminum pole while Airing your Grievances and partaking in the Feats of Strength!

Pentax K Series Video Recording

This video shows a thumb tack being removed from 

the esophagus of a canine patient using

a Rattigator Grasper from 

Endoscopy Support Services, Inc.

The video was recorded using the iCap Image 

& Video Recording System, 

a Pentax EG-2770K video endoscope,

 and an EPK-1000 video processor.

To find out more about any of these products contact us 

or check out our online store!

Pentax K Series Video Sample - Bronchoscopy

This footage shows the superior full screen image quality

 of the Pentax EB-1570K Video Bronchoscope.

This video was recorded with the
iCap Image and Video

 Capture System by iQuire.

To find out more about these products, 

check out our online store!

An example Set-Up for Obtaining Bronchoalveolar

Happy National Oatmeal Muffin Day!

Did you know that Oatmeal has been known to help

 lower your cholesterol?

Celebrate National Oatmeal Muffin Day by baking some of your own healthy treats!

Find some delicious recipes here!

MiSeal and MiFusion

This video begins with a short animation detailling the 

MiSeal and MiFusion technology and

  ends with video footage from an Ovariectomy in a canine patient. 

The MiSeal Reposable Thermal Lighting Device is the first and only reposable device that simultaneously fuses and divides soft tissue using direct thermal energy. 

The 5 mm laparoscopic instrument consists of a reusable hand-piece and disposable tip. The tip utilizes proprietary Thermal Fusion technology to facilitate the precise application of heat; minimizing collateral damage. 

Find out more about the MiSeal at our online store!

Anthony from our Shipping Department having some fun!

Check this out!

We had a statue made of a man performing an

 endoscopic procedure on a dog!

How cool is that?

Need a repair done?

Equine Gastroscopy by Endoscopy Support Services

This is a video sample from the Endoscopy Support Services Equine Gastroscope VET-H330.

It was recorded on the built-in capture system on the 

HVP-2100 to an SD card.

This procedure was done by Dr. Staller at 

Running S Equine.

We offer the largest selection of Endoscopy products for the veterinary practitioner with over 20,000 

products to choose from. 

Check out our online store now!

Sales manager Rich helping with some in-house 

Laparoscopy training. 

Happy National Poinsettia Day!

It's National Poinsettia Day! 

While these well-recognized symbols of Christmas are beautiful, don't forget to keep them away from your pets this holiday season, as they can be toxic if ingested!

Our Sales Manager Rich gearing up for endoscope

 cleaning & disinfecting training at a research facility.