A P R I L 2 0 1 5 O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T 3 3
have attempted to allow
physicians to see behind
the folds of the colon is
to offer improved optics
that provide larger angu-
lated views. While most
traditional colonoscopes
have a forward-facing
view of 170 degrees, there
are currently 2 new tech-
nologies on the market
that aim to give endoscopists an expanded view of about 330 degrees.
One of the new colonoscopes uses 3 chips on the tip that feature a traditional
forward-viewing camera as well as 2 side cameras to provide a 330-degree field
of view. The scope also features 7 LEDs that give clear, long-lasting illumination.
The system's video tower features 3 screens, with the center one showing the
traditional forward view and 2 secondary screens on either side that act like
rear-view mirrors, showing images behind the folds. The system's screens fea-
ture a 4K ultra- HD display; images are stored digitally and are easily integrated
with an electronic medical record system. It takes some adjustment to drive the
system, but the 3 screens together provide a superior view of the colon.
The big advantage of this system is its ability to provide forward and back-
ward views at the same time, letting physicians see behind folds in the colon,
where missed polyps tend to hide. The expanded view seems to make a differ-
ence. Limited research has shown that doctors who use the 330-degree colono-
scope tend to catch more polyps and have lower adenoma miss rates than docs
who use traditional scopes.
If you like the idea of a panoramic view of the colon, but aren't keen on the
large capital investment of buying a whole new platform, a new panoramic cap
z SMOOTH MOVES Mechanical innovations that
smooth the colon help surgeons catch more polyps.
