Gyrus ACMI Introduces The World's First Endoscope Protection System (EPS) Designed To Prevent Accidental Laser Damage

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Medical Devices
Article Date: 31 Oct 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Gyrus ACMI, Inc. a leading worldwide manufacturer and supplier of diagnostic and therapeutic minimally invasive surgical devices in the areas of Urology, Gynecology, ENT and General Surgery, announces the development of the world's first Endoscope Protection System (EPS) designed to prevent accidental laser damage to the distal end of flexible ureteroscopes from holmium lasers. When used with the Gyrus ACMI DUR®-D Digital Flexible Ureteroscope, released in September 2006, its ultra-miniature (1 mm) Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-Conductor (CMOS) distal sensor technology works in conjunction with the EPS software to accurately detect the laser fiber position. The EPS response is based on feedback from the CMOS imaging chip at the distal end of the DUR®-D Ureteroscope that instructs the laser to shutdown when the fiber is withdrawn to a position inside the working channel of the endoscope where damage could occur.

The EPS software package provides two modes of operation. The "Alert Only" mode accurately detects the laser fiber position and emits an alert tone and "Check-Fiber" warning message on the monitor screen. In the "Control Laser" mode, the DUR®-HL20 laser is connected to the control unit and can be actively fired if the laser fiber is in the safe field of view. If the laser fiber is retracted too far into the ureteroscope, the software emits the alert tone, flashes a "Check Fiber" warning, and places the laser in its standby mode. Shutdown of the laser occurs in less than 100 milliseconds and the laser cannot be fired again until the fiber is advanced to a safe distance and the laser is put into its ready mode. In trials1, even after 120 laser fiber retractions into the DUR®-D Ureteroscope while actively firing, there was no evidence of damage and ureteroscope performance remained unchanged.

"Surgeons use ureteroscopes to access, diagnose and treat almost all upper urinary tract conditions. Considering that up to 70% of ureteroscope malfunction can be attributed to laser damage, the Gyrus ACMI Endoscope Protection System (EPS) is an important technology advancement that will dramatically decrease the number of repairs and reduce the cost of doing ureteroscopy", stated Roy Davis, CEO, Gyrus Group, PLC (GYG) LSE.

1 Evaluation of the efficacy of a novel optically activated digital endoscope protection system against laser energy damage, Sung, Singh, Schwartz, Mirabile, Hruby, Ryan, Landman, Department of Urology, Columbia University Medical Center New York, NY, USA, June 2007.

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