Rigid endoscopes are medical instruments that must work in conjunction with dedicated equipment to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Their core components include an imaging host, camera, cold light source, monitor, and mobile cart. These endoscopes are primarily used in sterile procedures to access sterile cavities within human tissues, organs, or surgical incisions. Common types include laparoscopes, thoracoscopes, arthroscopes, discectoscopes, and ventriculoscopes.
Rigid endoscopes employ a prism-based optical system, which ensures high imaging quality, and they can be equipped with multiple working channels and various viewing angle options. Currently, in China, 90% of rigid endoscopes are used in five major departments: general surgery, urology, thoracic surgery, gynecology, and orthopedics.
From a clinical application perspective, rigid endoscopes can be further categorized into digestive endoscopes, respiratory endoscopes, laparoscopes, arthroscopes, and others.
In gastroenterology, digestive endoscopes are regarded as the "gold standard" for screening tumors of the digestive system. In various surgical departments, endoscopes such as laparoscopes are essential tools for performing minimally invasive surgeries.
▌Laparoscope
As a Class III medical device, a laparoscope is a specialized instrument integrated with a light source and a miniature camera, providing surgeons with a clear and visible "operating window." A complete laparoscopic system includes not only the scope itself but also an energy system, light source system, irrigation system, and imaging system, along with various specialized instruments such as puncture needles, trocars, dissecting forceps, electrocoagulation hooks, clip appliers, and scissors, collectively supporting a wide range of minimally invasive surgeries.
Laparoscopes are now widely used in many fields, including general surgery and gynecology, significantly enhancing surgical safety and efficiency with their precision and minimally invasive nature.
▌Thoracoscope
A thoracoscope is a type of endoscope primarily used for the minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases. It consists of a slender, flexible tubular instrument with a light source and camera at its tip. By creating small incisions in the patient's chest wall, the thoracoscope is inserted to directly observe the lungs, pleura, and other structures within the thoracic cavity. The images are transmitted in real-time to a display screen, assisting in the diagnosis or treatment of conditions such as pleural effusion, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis.
Compared to traditional open-chest surgery, thoracoscopic surgery causes less trauma, results in milder pain, leaves less noticeable scars, allows for faster recovery, and reduces the risk of complications.
▌Hysteroscope
A hysteroscope is a fiber-optic light source endoscope widely used for the examination and treatment of uterine diseases in gynecology. A standard system includes the scope, energy system, light source, irrigation system, and imaging system. Its tip can be inserted into the uterine cavity, and the images are magnified and displayed, offering intuitive and accurate advantages. It is the preferred tool for diagnosing abnormal uterine bleeding and intrauterine lesions.
Based on structure and function, hysteroscopes can be further divided into panoramic, contact, micro, and fiber hysteroscopes, among others, to meet different clinical needs.
▌Arthroscope
An arthroscope is a rod-shaped optical instrument with a diameter of about 5 mm, belonging to the category of endoscopes used for the diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases. It is inserted into the joint cavity through small incisions on the body surface, allowing doctors to directly observe internal structures and perform treatments. Compared to open surgery, arthroscopic surgery causes less trauma, promotes faster recovery, and helps preserve function and restore mobility to the greatest extent. It is commonly used to address sports injuries such as ligament damage, meniscal tears, and joint debridement.
A typical arthroscopic system includes a main scope, power shaver system, radiofrequency ablation system, and light source system, with the main scope being the core component.
▌Digestive Endoscope
Digestive endoscopes are specialized devices used for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system diseases. They obtain images of the digestive tract and organs through direct imaging or in combination with techniques such as ultrasound and X-ray.
They can be classified into various types: conventional ones such as esophagoscopes, gastroscopes, colonoscopes, duodenoscopes, and enteroscopes; technologically advanced ones like endoscopic ultrasound and capsule endoscopy; and special types such as choledochoscopes, pancreatoscopes, laparoscopes, and confocal laser endomicroscopy.
If categorized by examination site and function, they include upper digestive endoscopes, lower digestive endoscopes, ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography), and endoscopic ultrasound. Furthermore, based on clinical objectives, digestive endoscopes can be divided into diagnostic and therapeutic types, serving disease evaluation and interventional treatment, respectively.
