There are many medical devices used for treating
and diagnosing colon cancer. One such device is the
colonoscope used during colonoscopy. These
devices consist of a proximal housing, a flexible
insertion tube, and an umbilical cord connecting the
light source and the proximal housing. The proximal
housing, which is designed to be held in one hand,
typically includes the eyepiece , controls for distal
tip angulation and suction, and the working channel
port. Colonoscopes have several hollow channels for
suction, water and air delivery, and insertion or
accessory instruments and cannulae. The distal tip of
video colonoscopes includes a charge-coupled
device (CCD) that serves as a small camera and
electronically transmits the image from the CCD to
an
external
video-processing
unit.
Video
colonoscope insertion tubes contains a fiber-optic
light bundle, which transmits light from the light
source to the tip of the endoscope. Each fiber optic
bundle consists of thousands of individual glass
fibers coated with glass causing internal reflections
that allow light transmission through the fiber even
when it is flexed. The light is used to illuminate the
field of view in the patient’s colon. Video images are
detected by the CCD and are then transmitted to the
video processor and then display monitors or
recording devices. The patient typically lies on his or
her side on a procedure table. Patients typically will
require anesthesia or conscious sedation before
insertion of the colonoscope. The colonoscope is
inserted into the colon from the rectum by a
gastroenterologist. Video images are typically
viewed throughout the procedure on a video monitor.
These images can then be recorded, printed, stored
on digital media, or transmitted to another location
for simultaneous viewing. The gestroenologist
manipulates the direction of the device using
controls on the colonoscope control housing. The
colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and then
advanced through the large intestine. Another
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