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One of the challenges associated with reprocessing complex
instruments is the fact that the remarkable ability to design life-
saving technological marvels hasn't always gone hand in hand
with a clear recognition of how important and how difficult it
might be to make sure those marvels can be made safe for the
next patient in line. But that appears to be changing.
Duodenoscopes were a perfect example. They let physicians
perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or
ERCP, on profoundly ill patients, and have undoubtedly saved
countless lives. But frankly, the scopes — with their infamously
challenging elevator channels — were nearly impossible to clean,
the way they were originally designed. The well-publicized super-
bug outbreaks of recent years brightly underscored that discon-
nect. And the fact that Olympus is now retrofitting all of its duo-
denoscopes with new elevator channels is an indication of how
determined manufacturers are to bridge the gap.
If there's a silver lining to the tragedies that unfolded as a
result of those outbreaks, it's that manufacturers are increasing-
ly aware that they must make their devices easier to reprocess,
and that instructions for use need to reflect how instruments are
actually used on patients. As a result, we're now seeing much
more end-user input into how instruments are designed, and
that's a big step in the right direction.
— Gail Horvath, MSN, RN, CNOR, CRCST
IMPROVING DESIGNS
Manufacturers Making Their
Scopes Easier to Reprocess
