Surgical video systems used in laparoscopy

A significant amount of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is now being performed using surgical video systems (SVSs), and with the increased application and sales of SVS equipment, many new SVS manufacturers and products have entered the medical device market. Consequently, the challenge of selecting an appropriate SVS has increased significantly, in part because of the complexity of the latest generation of equipment, which has evolved from solely optical endoscopes to mostly video electronics used with various types of endoscopes. When describing their products, manufacturers often present technical characteristics of their systems that can be complex and, many times, confusing. Although purchasers often rely on technical specifications when selecting an SVS, they actually need information that will illustrate the system's applicability in their clinical setting, which can be assessed only through clinical evaluation at the hospital. Also, the lack of standardized methods of specifying SVS performance and the difficulties in relating technical characteristics to clinical performance should diminish the emphasis that is often placed on specifications when selecting a system. In this article, we review and explain many common specifications of SVSs, focusing on their use with laparoscopes, and provide guidance on the limitations of each specification and the extent to which it may be useful. This information will help clinical engineers, biomedical technicians, and other readers participate in the technical aspects of selecting and managing an SVS for use with many types of endoscopes.