Endoscopic inspection, have you learned it yet?

The external inspection of the endoscope is carried out item by item from the distal end to the light guide insertion head:

① Distal end: Check the light guide cover glass, CCD cover glass, nozzle, forceps pipe mouth, and distal cap for any damage or cracks;

② Bending section: Check the bending rubber and bending tube for aging, wear, deformation, and check the adhesive for peeling or roughness;

③ Insertion section: Check the insertion tube for deformation, bending, scratches, flattening, or dirt, and check whether the insertion tube markings are missing;

④ Operating section: Check if the eyepiece cover glass is damaged, if the electronic contacts are rusty or oxidized, if the suction seat is worn, if the angle knob and left and right knobs are loose, if the buttons have abnormal noise, damage, or aging, and if the nameplate is missing or detached;

⑤ Light guide tube: Check if the light guide tube is bent, deformed, or damaged;

⑥ Light guide insertion head: Check if the light guide rod is loose, if the electronic contacts are deformed, rusty, or oxidized, and if the water bottle interface O-ring is worn or aged;

⑦ Light guide bundle: Check the brightness of the light guide bundle and whether it is connected to the light source.

Leak testing is particularly important for preventing endoscope malfunctions. If leaks are not detected and repaired promptly, continued use of a leaking endoscope can lead to more extensive damage, such as CCD burnout, cracking of the image bundle, hardening and brittling of the light guide bundle, rusting of metal parts, etc., thus increasing repair costs. Leak testing is crucial for early detection of water ingress in endoscopes. Leak testing must be performed using the correct method before cleaning and disinfection. It is recommended that leak testing be performed after each use of the endoscope (Figure 1).

Test the endoscope's image, bending angle, air/water supply, suction function, forceps pipe insertion performance, button function, elevator function, eyepiece zoom action, and suction tube cleaning brush insertion performance.

The following points should be noted after completing the endoscope inspection:

① Turn off the host, light source, and suction device power;

② Remove the water bottle and suction tube, detach the cable and remove the endoscope;

③ Remove water vapor, suction button, and invert the endoscope operating section to drain residual water from the pipes (from the water vapor cylinder);

④ Connect the all-pipeline perfusion device and continuously inject air to drain residual water from the pipes;

⑤ Wipe the exterior of the endoscope and send it for disinfection;

⑥ Record the inspection results;

⑦ Inspection completed.

During the inspection process, malfunctions that may worsen and increase the risk of use, such as water leakage, abnormal angle, and abnormal image, may require repair. From a preventative perspective, to prevent the malfunction from escalating, it is suggested that repairs be made for issues such as wrinkling, discoloration, scratches, and wear. Please comprehensively assess the impact of the malfunctions and anomalies found during the inspection on the functionality and safety, keep a record, and promptly notify the relevant personnel.

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