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About Endoscope
Reprocessing Challenges
Today's medical practitioners rely
on flexible endoscopes for a variety of diagnoses ranging from
those involving colon-related illnesses to sinus ailments
While the use of these high-cost devices has become more routine,
the cleaning and disinfection procedures involved with
reprocessing the equipment can be challenging.
Endoscopes are heat-sensitive, electronic instruments used in
internal body cavity examinations.
An endoscope's internal channels (or lumens) are used to shine
light in the specific body cavity that is being examined.
One reason the use of the flexible endoscope has become
increasingly common is because endoscopic tests represent a
favourable alternative to surgical diagnostic methods.
However, to ensure endoscopes are available without delay,
practitioners need an effective and efficient reprocessing method.
Endoscopes are high-cost devices, so they are reused by hospitals
and medical centres.
Before reuse, the equipment must be safely reprocessed to
eliminate the risk of transmitting infectious diseases among
patients.
Endoscopes are generally difficult to clean and the harsh
chemicals used for reprocessing need to be handled with care. A
new standard for endoscope washer disinfectors, EN-ISO15883 part
4, will go into effect in 2006.
Transmittable illnesses such as NvCJD (New variant Creuzveld
Jacobs Disease) commonly known as 'mad cow disease', have alerted
health officials to the risks that are involved if endoscope
devices are not properly processed.
The procedure is particularly challenging because the internal
channels of the endoscope can become exposed to micro organisms
that are often difficult to reach, especially during manual
cleaning activities.
Since manual washing methods are often tedious and time-consuming,
medical organizations have begun seeking out more effective
alternatives , viz automated cleaning systems.
Advanced reprocessing systems are helping these medical
organizations reduce nurses' exposure to chemicals while at the
same time minimizing patient health risks that can result from
improperly cleaned equipment.
They also expedite the endoscope reprocessing effort, which allows
practitioners to avoid exam backlogs.
The increased reliance on automated equipment has, in turn, led to
a greater urgency among suppliers of these washing and
disinfecting systems to differentiate their product designs.
Endoscope reprocessing equipment generally requires several
connections on the machine's inside as well as to the supply and
drain lines.
One secret to the success of such systems is high-quality,
reliable components such as quick disconnect couplings .These
coupling products should provide a leak-free connection between
internal endoscope channels and endoscope washing devices during
the disinfection process.
Having a reliable coupling is just one aspect of a safe, overall
system - albeit an important one.
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