Affordable endoscopes

Re: Affordable endoscopes

Peter Faulkner — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 11:56:43 GMT

Hi Evelyn,

Thanks for your advice. I know how you feel and I share your bafflement, its almost like they want me to haggle or something? I've a bit of spare time today, might give them a call and have some fun.

Pete

Re: Affordable endoscopes

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 03:06:15 GMT

[quote user="Peter Faulkner"]

I'm mainly interested in having a quick peak up a nose, behind the soft palate, down a trachea / oesophagus etc. I used one in the past, but it was very chunky and I was hoping the technology had improved to make the distal end a bit thinner, I'll have a look at the auction sites and ebay to see what's available.

[/quote]

Peter,

Yes, just doing those things will improve your scope (ha ha) a great deal. But you don't need a video endoscope to do that. Just a straightforward flexible endoscope. (You can always add camera and the rest of the stuff later when feeling flush). And for all that, one with two-way deflection rather than four-way will be perfectly adequate.... and it can be thinner (4mm nominal diameter I think). Moreover, although a rigid endoscope is best for rhinoscopy, you can do quite well up a nose with the flexible. You do want irrigation and working channels, and of course don't forget you are going to need the instruments to use down the channel: a biopsy instrument and a grasper; also the correct cleaning instruments are essential.

I would at least have a talk to Veterinary Endoscopy Services if I were you.

I'm somewhat baffled by the Kruuse item. They don't tell you what it costs, in fact they don't tell you anything much about the instrument at all! I'd be very wary and insist on a trial, or at least on a demonstration, before buying.

Re: Affordable endoscopes

Andrew Kent — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:10:33 GMT

Hi Pete,

I agree that, other than looking up noses, a bronchoscope would be best for what you are looking for, probably something around 5mm. I would make sure it has a working channel so that you can at least do BAL's if indicated. Noses are best approached with a rigid scope but a small flexible scope might give you a quick look if you had a working channel for irrigation with saline.

There are plenty of small fibre optic scopes around in this size, less video scopes as they have only recently been available in such small sizes. Just keep a look out for broken fibres!

Andy

Re: Affordable endoscopes

jose targa — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:08:22 GMT

Hi Peter

Maybe a human bronchoscope is the bert option in your case. Thin and usefull for you

Regards

Re: Affordable endoscopes

Peter Faulkner — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:38:28 GMT

Many thanks for all your replies.

Cheers

Pete

Re: Affordable endoscopes

Andrew Kent — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 22:03:27 GMT

Hi Peter,

As others have said I think it depends what you want to be able to do. These kind of scopes might be ok for very basic things but I don't believe they have a biopsy channel and so wouldn't be useful for taking biopsies (which is probably the main reason I perform endoscopy on things).

So deciding what you want to be able to do is important before deciding which scopes might fit the brief.

Andy

Re: Affordable endoscopes

Laurence Webb — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 21:30:12 GMT

We got a refurbished one from Custom Optics for a very good price but, if you don't mind doing some legwork to check them out then I'd agree that medical auctions can be great value for money.

Re: Affordable endoscopes

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 20:13:49 GMT

Is this something new for the practice? My advice would be to buy a second hand human one and see how you get on. They can be picked up from medical auctions or even ebay for very little money, and are often much better quality than some of the budget crap offered to vets.

Re: Affordable endoscopes

Chris Allen — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 16:23:29 GMT

Depends what you want to do with it? Make a list of what you want to use your endoscope for :)