EndoSheath endoscopic system

To address the problems inherent in reprocessing endoscopes--the time required (about an hour per use), the difficulty of the process, and the adverse consequences of endoscope contamination--Vision Sciences Inc. introduced the EndoSheath endoscopic system. It consists of a disposable sheath that fits over a specially designed reusable fiberoptic endoscope. When an endoscopic procedure is completed, the sheath is discarded, and the endoscope is wiped with alcohol and reused. We evaluated one of the EndoSheath products--a sheathed sigmoidoscope--for its suitability in an endoscopy suite. We examined the unit and surveyed a number of users. We found that, although it would considerably shorten the time between endoscopic procedures, the unit was not well suited for an endoscopy suite because it provided no more protection than would be afforded by a carefully followed reprocessing protocol. However, users informed us that the sigmoidoscope and one other product--a nasopharyngo-laryngoscope--would likely be useful in a doctor's office or a hospital clinic.