According to Matthew Sens, senior marketing communications manager for Pentax Medical Company, 2010 will be spent continuing to focus on emerging sonoelastography technology for GI, which creates HD and true color images.

Other OEMs such as Stryker and Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation are also focusing on providing better HD images, while Fujinon's double balloon endoscopy system is making it possible for detailed observation and treatment in the small intestine.


The third-party industry has evolved at an incredible rate over the past 10 years to the point where many repair companies and parts vendors are ISO-certified and follow strict quality control measures. However, the smaller scopes being introduced into the market have presented some challenges.

"Scopes are getting small, smaller and, we hope, with the addition of the new 2.2 mm Olympus scopes, smallest," says Townsend. "These scopes present new challenges in the manufacture of parts and development of techniques required for repairing and rebuilding them."

Although the OEMs keep coming out with new twists on technology, the reputable independent service organizations can figure out the systems quickly with reverse engineering and move forward with service and repairs.




"With the smaller scopes, we learn new things with our research and development and it doesn't take too long," says David Johnston, president of EndoTechnologies, Inc., which sells and repairs video endoscopy and endoscopic hardware. "We are seeing as a result of things getting smaller, that they are not lasting as long as they used to because they are more delicate," he says. "We are seeing the repair business increasing tremendously as a result of that."

EndoTechnologies will be launching a new filter line this summer and has recently moved to a larger facility in preparation for its growth in this area.

Final thoughts

Further advantages of endoscopic surgery include lower costs, quicker recovery and healing time, lower risk of surgical complications and reduced trauma. Specialists and general practitioners can also perform many diagnostics and procedures in their offices, rather than having to constantly use hospital operating rooms.

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