Development of a fogless scope and its analysis using infrared radiation pyrometer.
BACKGROUND
In laparoscopic surgery, fogging of the lens tip instantly degrades the quality of image and interrupts the flow of surgical maneuvers. External warming devices prevent fogging for a certain length of time, but use of them is troublesome at best. These problems prompted us to develop a fogless mechanism built into the scope so that the fogless image would be continuous and trouble-free. We then conducted several experiments that demonstrate the precise effect it has on the lens tip.


METHODS
The infrared radiation pyrometer was used to compare the temperature distribution as well as the temperature change against time of each lens tip of the fogless and ordinary laparoscopes.


RESULTS
The temperature of the lens tip of the ordinary scope did not change, but that of the fogless scope rose to 41 degrees C in 184-208 s.


CONCLUSIONS
The fogless mechanism effectively warms the lens tip to a safe temperature that prevents fogging in the intraabdominal environment.
Hashimoto
D
D
Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Hospital, Japan.
Shouji
M
M
D007259:Infrared Rays; D020706:Laparoscopes; D007909:Lenses / Q000592:standards*; D013696:Temperature