Cold Weather Endoscope Care
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Upon receiving a scope back from repair, open the case for about 30 minutes and allow the instrument to reach room temperature before removing it from the case. This simple step can prevent premature breakdown of the light guide tube and insertion tube as well as damage to the internal components. |
The Folly of Fluid Invasion
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Any time a flexible endoscope is immersed in water or a cleaning solution a fluid invasion can occur if a leak is present. Proper leak testing is the easiest way to identify the location of a leak. If a leak remains undiagnosed for any period of time it can result in significant repair costs related to rusted components, damage and corrosion of electronics, and brittle or weak fiberoptic bundles. 
The Control Body is made of plastic and metal that is difficult to damage without impact, but even slight impact can cause the o-rings and seals that join the parts together to misalign and leak. Leaks with the Control Knobs can be particularly problematic and tricky. During the leak testing procedure it is important to manipulate the control knobs while the scope is adequately pressurized. Depending on the location of the leak and position of the knobs a leak can be missed or it can become an open floodgate if pressure is not kept on the scope. 
The Electronic Connector has an airtight cap that must be used to cover and seal this delicate part prior to any form of submersion. The seal on the cap should be checked regularly as a damaged seal or crack in the plastic will render the cap leaky. Corrosion in the EC can lead to CCD damage. Replacing a CCD can cost $5000 or more.Leak Test…Leak Test…Leak Test
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Protecting Your Capital Investment
With the slowing economy resulting in smaller capital budgets for new endoscopy equipment, forging a solid relationship with a reputable repair vendor is more important than ever. Even if you have an OEM service contract on your newer equipment, you still need to maintain your 160, 140 and 100 series scopes.
Never replace your flexible endoscopes prematurely. There is little that cannot be repaired on a flexible scope with today’s advanced repair technologies. At a price of $25,000 and up for new scopes, consulting with a reputable repair vendor before considering replacement is both practical and prudent.
Should you need to replace, taking advantage of refurbished equipment is a wise option. A reputable vendor can help you put together complete systems at a fraction the OEM cost and provide service contract options to help control maintenance and repair cost of these delicate instruments.
The market is flooded with vendors, but there are only a few real professionals. There are vendors with workshops in their garage or basement. There are vendors that will Frankenstein your scope back together with sub-par parts and repair techniques. And then there is Matlock Endoscopic who has specialized in small and large diameter flexible endoscope repair, complete system sales, and facility installation for nearly 20 years.
Not sure about the facility you are using? Request a site visit. We would love to see you.
Common Questions in Flexible Endoscopy
When clinical staff members who have contact with your flexible scope inventory truly understand scope nomenclature, how a scope works and proper handling, your facility or department should have fewer incidents of damage due to improper handling or accidental breakage. But what happens when something does go wrong? Do you understand symptoms of problems and how to prevent a minor problem from becoming an expensive repair? M.E.R. has the answers you need.
Why is my scope foggy?
The camera lens is broken and needs to be repaired. Fluid invasion is possible. Do not hang the scope; send for repair immediately.
Why is the endoscope beeping on its own?
Possible fluid invasion or loose connection internally on the microswitches. Do not hang the scope; send for repair immediately.
Why does the endoscope angulate in only 3 directions?
Broken angulation cable.
Slipped stopper on angulation cable.
An angulation is needed.
A coil pipe is detached from insertion tube.
What does excessive play mean?
The angulation cables have stretched and need to be adjusted.
What does reduced angulation mean?
Angulation stoppers need to be adjusted; no wires need to be shortened.
Why do I feel bumps when passing a brush or forcep through the channel?
Channel is possibly kinked or bent.
The instrument is damaged or bent.
The channel is obstructed.
What causes a buckle?
Coiling the endoscope in too tight a radius.
Bending or pressing down on insertion tube during the procedure.
Why does the video image slowly turn gray or foggy during procedures, and then turn back to normal?
The camera head seal on the distal tip is broken or cracked.
Possible fluid invasion. Do not hang; send for repair immediately.
Why can I see debris when I look into the light guide connector prong?
Possible broken light guide(s).
The scope has a possible fluid invation. GRAVITY + FLUID= DIRTY PRONG. (When a scope is hung with fluid trapped inside, the fluid and lubricants automatically flow to the end of the scope).
Should I hang a scope that I know is flooded?
No, it can cause corrosion and further internal damage. Send for repair immediately.
Flexible Endoscope Repairs: Doing It Your Way
Today more than ever hospitals are seeking innovative ways to reduce costs and provide affordable health care. Empowering your Biomedical Engineering team to perform simple repairs on-site can save your facility hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair and shipping costs annually. Some multi facility systems have adopted the repair depot concept through which system wide repairs can be performed.
The November 24 x 7 cover story, Doing It Their Way, features the unique approach to cost containment on equipment repair adopted by Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, TN.
If you’re interested in learning more about training your Clinical Engineering department to perform repairs on flexible endoscopes, look no further than Matlock Endoscopic’s Endoscope Repair Training Classes.
Matlock Endoscopic is M.E.R.
Since our company’s inception in 1991, MER has focused on one simple goal: Provide quality endoscopic equipment maintenance and customer service while keeping our overhead low, creating tremendous savings to pass along to our valued customers which include surgery centers throughout the United States.
In short, we give our customers peace of mind and extra time to do what they do best – provide the highest quality patient care possible.
In the health care industry, quality of service is very important. MER has quality control standards in place and our employees adhere to these standards on every instrument we receive. However, quality doesn’t just happen. The word itself is only as good as the employees responsible for getting it right the first time. We have found that happy employees take tremendous pride in the quality of their work.
