D Hashimoto1, M Shouji. 1. Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Hospital, Japan.
Abstract
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.
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.