FLEXIBLE SCOPE DEVICE

FLEXIBLE SCOPE DEVICE There is provided a portable medical endoscope comprising: a flexible portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the flexible portion comprises a bending section and a tip at the distal end, and wherein the tip comprises an image-capturing device; a controller portion disposed at the proximal end of the flexible portion, wherein the controller portion comprises: (i) an angulation mechanism coupled to the bending section and the tip, wherein the angulation mechanism controls movement of the tip; and (ii) a handle in a pistol grip configuration; and a detachable monitor configured to releasably engage the controller portion; wherein the flexible portion and the controller portion are integrally formed, waterproof, and capable of withstanding high level disinfection conditions.

This application claims the benefit of priority of Singapore application No. 10202111999X, filed 28 Oct. 2021, the contents of it being hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The invention relates to a flexible scope. In particular, the invention relates to a low-cost, portable and reusable flexible endoscope system.

In developing countries, most patients are not able to undergo complete Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) examinations at district and provincial clinics/hospitals due to the lack of proper equipment at these primary care facilities. Patients are referred to national and central hospitals for basic examinations, often causing overcrowding and overburdening at these tertiary level facilities. At these tertiary care centres, most are found to have issues that could have been treated or addressed at their local facility. Furthermore, treatment for HNC patients that require tertiary level treatment may be delayed due to travel time, costs, and wait times as a result of the overburdening at national and central facilities.

Currently, reusable flexible endoscope systems at tertiary medical centres cost around $50,000 or more, and are large and heavy, limiting their use to a single room. Although such systems are used as a standard of care in clinical examinations for cancers in developed countries, this is not the case in Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) due to the flexible endoscope systems' high cost.

A typical alternative solution to the expensive and bulky reusable flexible endoscope systems would be the use of disposable flexible endoscopes connected to a video pad. The disposable flexible endoscopes come at a more affordable initial CAPEX than their reusable counterparts. However, these disposable endoscopes have a disposable single-use portion which would make these systems more expensive and not environmentally sustainable when compared to the reusable flexible endoscopes in the long run, and therefore these disposable endoscopes are not suitable for LMICs.

Usually in LMICs, clinicians use rigid endoscope systems which are slightly more affordable than flexible endoscope systems. However, due to the rigid nature of the scope, these lack the comfort, versatility and ease of use when compared to the flexible ones. Rigid scopes typically consist of a metal shaft with an angled lens at the end of the scope that facilitates views of the oropharynx and larynx during examination. The rigid scope is inserted through the mouth while the patient protrudes their tongue that is held by the health care provider. Examination via a rigid endoscopic has significant drawbacks for both the patient and the examining physician, including: 1) stimulation of the gag reflex in the majority of patients, 2) a limited view of the upper aerodigestive tract due to the fixed angle lens of the scope, 3) restricted examination of laryngeal function due to the retraction of the tongue by the health care provider, and 4) extreme difficulty examining the nasal cavity and nasopharynx for tumours.

Thus, what is needed is a low-cost, portable and reusable flexible endoscope system. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the disclosure.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a portable medical endoscope comprising: a flexible portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the flexible portion comprises a bending section and a tip at the distal end, and wherein the tip comprises an image-capturing device; a controller portion disposed at the proximal end of the flexible portion, wherein the controller portion comprises: (i) an angulation mechanism coupled to the bending section and the tip, wherein the angulation mechanism controls movement of the tip; and (ii) a handle in a pistol grip configuration; and a detachable monitor configured to releasably engage the controller portion; wherein the flexible portion and the controller portion are integrally formed to form a single article such that said single article is waterproof, and capable of withstanding high level disinfection conditions.

In one embodiment, the bending section comprises a plurality of vertebrae.

In one embodiment, the plurality of vertebrae are coupled together by hinges.

In one embodiment, the tip is made of stainless steel.

In one embodiment, the stainless steel is SUS304.

In one embodiment, the image-capturing device comprises a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor.

In one embodiment, the bending section is made of a precipitation hardening stainless steel.

In one embodiment, the precipitation hardening stainless steel is SUS631.

In one embodiment, the bending section is covered by a bending rubber.

In one embodiment, the bending rubber is made of a high-performance fluoroelastomer.

In one embodiment, the high-performance fluoroelastomer is Viton.

In one embodiment, the controller portion further comprises a pressure valve for measuring an internal pressure of the controller portion.

In one embodiment, the detachable monitor is an LCD monitor.

In one embodiment, the detachable monitor comprises a rechargeable battery.

In one embodiment, the angulation mechanism comprises: a lever configured to control the angulation of the tip; a crank shaft coupled to the lever and to a pair of angulation wires, wherein the pair of angulation wires extend from the controller portion to the tip; wherein a displacement of the lever operates the crank shaft to cause movement of the pair of angulation wires, thereby angulating the tip.

In one embodiment, the angulation mechanism allows the tip to be angulated up to 150 degrees in two directions on a single plane, with a total angulation of 300 degrees.

In one embodiment, the portable medical endoscope as described herein further comprises one or more buttons disposed on the controller portion for activating a function of the image-capturing device.

Advantageously, in addition to being made of medical grade material and catered for ENT usage in terms of size and dimensions, this invention is portable (does not require an endoscope stack), compact (includes a detachable LCD monitor), less expensive (requires less components and less sophisticated equipment that is typically required in clinical settings), durable (being able to withstand high number of bending cycles due to the angulation mechanism described below and use of material selected for this device), chemically resistant (e.g. ability to withstand high level disinfection solutions), and easy to use (due in part to the pistol grip handle configuration).

The invention will be better understood with reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the non-limiting examples and the accompanying drawings, in which:

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description. It is the intent of the present embodiment to present a portable medical endoscope that is low-cost and reusable.

The present disclosure provides a portable medical endoscope comprising: a flexible portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the flexible portion comprises a bending section and a tip at the distal end, and wherein the tip comprises an image-capturing device; a controller portion disposed at the proximal end of the flexible portion, wherein the controller portion comprises: (i) an angulation mechanism coupled to the bending section and the tip, wherein the angulation mechanism controls movement of the tip; and (ii) a handle in a pistol grip configuration; and a detachable monitor configured to releasably engage the controller portion, wherein the flexible portion and the controller portion are integrally formed, waterproof, and capable of withstanding high level disinfection conditions.

The device or endoscope of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of endoscopic procedures, including but not limited to nasopharyngeal endoscopy, bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy, gastroscopy or laryngoscopy. Alternatively, it may be used to observe the interior of any bodily orifice. Apart from cancer-related applications, applicable procedures include but are not limited to Pre- and Post-operative Endoscopic Airway Examination (PEAE), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) for speech pathology, Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) for sleep apnoea, checking for Velopharyngeal Dysfunction (VPD) and postoperative examination after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS).

FIG.1shows a side view of the portable medical endoscope100(also known as “endoscope” or “device”) in accordance with present embodiments. The flexible portion102is also known as a “flexible scope” or “flexible scope portion”. The controller portion104is also known as “controller handle”. In one embodiment, the detachable monitor106is an LCD monitor

FIG.2shows a front view of the portable medical endoscope100with the detachable monitor106attached.

An embodiment of the portable medical endoscope100with the detachable monitor106absent is shown inFIG.3(left side view),FIG.4(front view),FIG.5(bottom view) andFIG.6(right side view).

Most reusable endoscopes in the prior art have to be connected to an endoscopy stack to be operational, which limits the portability of such prior art endoscopes. Advantageously, the medical endoscope of the present disclosure will be used as a standalone device without the need to be connected to an endoscopy stack; it has a detachable monitor106that can be connected to or detached from the controller portion104, allowing the medical endoscope to be portable. Users can directly review photos and videos on the detachable monitor without having to extract the data to a computer.

Flexible Portion

The flexible portion102is also known as “flexible scope”. As used herein, the term “scope” may be used interchangeably with “probe”, “tube” or “insertion tube”. Such scopes are useful in viewing the interior of an orifice. In one embodiment, the flexible portion102is engineered to have a small diameter of below 4 mm, allowing for easy and comfortable insertion into the patient. The diameter of the flexible portion may range from 1 mm to 15 mm. In particular, in various embodiments, the tip of the flexible portion may have an outer diameter of about 3.5 mm. In various embodiments, the insertion tube of the flexible portion102may be about 350 mm long.

The flexible portion102is adapted to engage with a controller portion104in a watertight manner or is integrally formed (i.e. formed in a single article) with the controller portion104. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible portion102is integrally formed with the controller portion104. Advantageously, upon detaching the detachable monitor106, the flexible portion102and controller portion104can be fully submerged in fluid for high level disinfection, allowing the portable medical endoscope100to be reusable.

As shown inFIG.10, the flexible portion102comprises a tip1002(also known as “scope tip” or “flexible tip”) connected to a bending section1004at the distal end. The tip1002is covered by a distal tip bushing1006. The tip1002is flexible, may have an outer diameter of about 3.5 mm, and may be angulated up to 150 degrees in 2 directions on a single plane (300 degrees in total), allowing the end user to comprehensively view the body cavity area of interest in a retroflex fashion. This angulation is enabled by the angulation mechanism in the controller portion104that has 2 angulation wires810connected to 2 angulation stoppers1104which are secured to the distal tip bushing1006of the flexible tip1002, as shown inFIG.11. As shown inFIG.12, 2 angulation wires810are housed inside 2 wire coils1204that are used to guide the wires from the controller portion104to the flexible tip1002. Advantageously, the angulation mechanism allows the direction of the tip1002to be controlled by the user.

In the present embodiments, the bending section1004at the distal end of the flexible portion104is engineered in such a way to allow for up to 100 times bending per day for 6 consecutive months totalling more than 18,000 times of bending. The bending of the bending section1004allows for the angulation of the tip1002. The bending section1004is also known as the “vertebrae” of the endoscope. Several metal bands are hinged together in a manner that alternates vertebra-air space-vertebra. This configuration enables the vertebrae to move vertically and horizontally. The design of the bending section1004allows for low friction when moving in the intended plane but provides high resistance when forces are applied in torsional motion, thus increasing the lifespan of the bending section1004as compared to traditional rivet style bending sections. Advantageously, the design of bending section1004allows for increased bending cycles, durability and low-cost of manufacturing.

As shown inFIG.12, the bending section1004may be covered by a bending rubber1202which is on the exterior of the flexible portion. In addition to the design of the bending section1004, the materials used to manufacture the bending section1004and the bending rubber1202also contribute to the high durability of the bending section1004. In one embodiment, the bending section may be composed of SUS631, a precipitation hardening stainless steel. This type of steel is known to provide significantly higher tensile strength and yield strength as opposed to other types such as the austenitic stainless steel. In one embodiment, the bending rubber1202is composed of Viton, a high-performance fluoroelastomer polymer with high tensile strength and tear resistance.

Advantageously, the use of high-performance fluoroelastomer to form the bending rubber1202allows for increased durability (high number of bending cycles allowed), chemical resistance to high level disinfection solutions, and increased flexibility of the bending rubber1202. A high-performance fluoroelastomer is a material that has high resistance to a wide range of chemicals which enables the material to withstand a larger number of disinfection cycles during the reprocessing stage. This contributes to the durability of the bending rubber1202and of the overall portable medical endoscope100.

By “fluoroelastomer”, it is meant to include any highly fluorinated polymer that is suitable for continuous use at elevated temperatures. Fluoroelastomers have excellent heat and flame resistance, and outstanding resistance to aging, ozone, oxidizers, oils and many chemicals. They also have low gas permeability and low compression set.

The tip may be made of stainless steel such as SUS304. By “SUS304”, it is meant to include any “Steel Use Stainless” material containing chromium (between about 18% to 20%) and nickel (between about 8% to 10.5%) as the main non-iron constituents. It can maintain good strength and heat resistance in high temperature and low temperature environments, and also has good corrosion resistance, weldability, cold workability and mechanical properties in the mild atmosphere.

The sheath of the flexible scope portion102is made of biocompatible material to enable the device to be used in humans and is designed to enable insertion into the patients' cavity without causing any injury nor discomfort. The biocompatible material does not produce a toxic or immunological response in humans. Examples of biocompatible materials that can be used to make the sheath of the scope portion102include thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPC), thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The sheath of the scope may also be composed of a mixture of TPC and TPU, or a mixture of TPU and TPC containing soft PVC.

The tip1002comprises an image-capturing device which may include an illumination source (such as one or more LED modules1304shown inFIG.13), an image sensor (such as a CMOS sensor1302shown inFIG.13) and an objective lens1102to allow for capturing of images or videos of the illuminated interior of the orifice or cavity under examination. For example, a high-resolution CMOS sensor1302may be housed behind a lens1102at the tip1002, which would ensure a clear field of view and enable easy identification of any abnormal tissue features during screening. In various embodiments, surrounding the CMOS are high powered, high Colour Rendering Index (CRI) and high R9 value LED modules1304that enable the tip of the scope to emit sufficient light output at the tip1002of the flexible portion102for the end user to view the patient's tissue and to ensure that the tissue is viewed with a good quality of light. This allows the user to make better tissue identification and to make faster and more accurate diagnosis. A suitable and adequate heat sink or heat transfer system may be used to transfer thermal energy away from the tip1002, for example using heat pips for transferring the thermal energy to the controller handle. Advantageously, the device of this invention does not require a separate light guide or light source from an endoscope stack through the flexible portion102. Light guides have been known to be more fragile and will deteriorate during re-processing and/or sterilization. On the other hand, the LED modules1304at the tip1002have been selected to have the following features high powered, high Colour Rendering Index (CRI) and high R9 value to better enhance the tissue that the camera is focusing on.

The flexible portion102is designed, and materials are chosen in such a way to allow it to be waterproof and to be able to withstand long-term harsh chemical high-level disinfection durations, to prevent cross contamination between patients after each use. Chemicals that may be used for high-level disinfection include but are not limited to glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and ortho-phthalaldehyde. Examples of trade names of commonly used high level disinfectants that may be used with the device of the present invention include Cidex PLUS (glutaraldehyde), Cidex OPA (phthalaldehyde), Aldahol (glutaraldehyde), Rapicide (peracetic acid), Resert XL (hydrogen peroxide) and Acecide (peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide).

The flexible portion102is connected to the controller portion104at the proximal end.

Controller Portion

The controller portion104is also known as “controller handle”. As shown inFIGS.7-9, the controller portion104includes a pistol grip302(also known as “pistol grip configuration”), an angulation mechanism, a pressure valve406, a tilt mechanism404for tilting the detachable monitor106, a waterproof connector402for connecting to the detachable monitor106, 2 buttons306for performing photo-taking and/or video-taking functions, and electronic components such as a camera driver module820and back-up battery822.

The controller portion104enables the end-user to control the tip1002of the endoscope to achieve angulation up to 150 degrees in 2 directions on a single plane (300 degrees in total). This allows the end-user to better steer the endoscope tip1002in the desired direction during scope introduction and also allows for comprehensive viewing in the body cavity of interest.

The controller portion104is also designed, and materials are chosen in such a way to allow it to be waterproof and to be able to withstand long-term harsh chemical high-level disinfection durations, so as to prevent cross contamination between patients after each use. By “high level disinfection”, it is meant to refer to any treatment of medical devices and instruments that inhibits most viable microorganisms. Chemicals that may be used for high-level disinfection include but are not limited to glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and ortho-phthalaldehyde. Examples of trade names of commonly used high level disinfectants that may be used with the device of the present invention include Cidex PLUS (glutaraldehyde), Cidex OPA (phthalaldehyde), Aldahol (glutaraldehyde), Rapicide (peracetic acid), Resert XL (hydrogen peroxide) and Acecide (peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide).

The device itself is designed and built to be robust to withstand in the field (outside the clinic setting) type of work.

In a vast majority of endoscopes, the handle on the controller portion104is in the form of a conventional power grip. In the present invention, the handle comprises a pistol grip configuration302. The ergonomic design of the pistol grip302allows for improved control and ease of use. In addition, the pistol grip302is more comfortable and intuitive for new users and may therefore accelerate the adoption of the device. The anti-slip texture at the bottom and top portion of the handle improves the grip of the endoscope100when the end user holds onto it. The controller portion104has also been designed such that the centre of gravity of the controller portion104sits nicely at the palm of the end users for improved comfort when using the endoscope and when the detachable monitor106is plugged into the controller portion104. The controller portion104has also been designed with a handle grip angle of between 45-90 deg for improved comfort and ease of use. The handle grip angle is the degree the pistol grip configuration302is bent in relation to the horizontal axis. In other words, it is the angle formed between the horizontal plane and the central axis of the pistol grip configuration302. The combination of these features minimizes ergonomic stress experienced by users, especially during device use across prolonged periods.

The controller portion104comprises a lever304on the top side of the pistol grip302that is intuitive to use and easy to use for controlling the scope tip1002angulation via a push and pull mechanism with the end user's finger. As shown inFIGS.8and9, the lever304is connected to a crank shaft802which is in turn attached to 2 connector rods804. Each connector rod804is secured to a sliding rod806. A wire stopper808and a wire soldering rod902are incorporated inside each sliding rod. An angulation wire810is affixed to each wire stopper808and wire soldering rod902. Consequently, pulling or pushing the lever304would cause movement of the angulation wire810, which in turn would enable the flexible tip1002to bend.

For example, the pulling of the lever304activates the crank shaft802, which in turn causes movement of the connector rod804, sliding rod806, wire stopper808and angulation wire810(in the order mentioned). As the angulation wires810are connected to the distal tip bushing1006, the pulling or pushing of the lever304results in the bending of the bending section1004, thereby angulating the tip1002. The extent of lever movement is proportional to the angle of deflection at the tip1002, and a larger movement of the lever304corresponds to a larger angulation of the tip1002. The movement of each sliding rod806will be controlled by an angulation base812and angle stopper814. The angulation base812and angle stopper814are in place so that the sliding rod806has a restricted space to move in-between and therefore the lever304will be able to push and pull the angulation wires810up and down. In one embodiment, the angulation mechanism allows the tip1002to be angulated up to 150 degrees in two directions (300 degrees in total).

Advantageously, the angulation mechanism comprising the crank shaft802as described herein allows the movement of the angulation wires810to be more stable during angulation of the tip1002and is therefore superior over existing angulation mechanisms that comprise conventional pulley systems.

In one embodiment, the device also incorporates buttons306disposed on the controller portion104for activating a function of the image-capturing device. By “activating a function”, it is meant to include activating photo-taking and/or video-taking functions. The buttons306can also be used to scroll between images or videos when accessed in playback mode. These buttons206may be used for easy photo and video taking activation. All other functions during playback mode may be performed via the touchscreen feature of the monitor106. In addition, while possible to do so, playback may be carried out directly from the LCD monitor without having to extract the data to a computer. For example, the buttons306may be located at the bottom side of the pistol grip302for ease of use when the end user wants to perform photo-taking and/or video-taking functions. The buttons306are embossed with 3-dimensional ‘X’ and ‘O’ symbols to allow the user to differentiate between the photo and video taking buttons in a tactile manner. It would be generally understood by a person skilled in the art that the buttons306could be located elsewhere on the controller portion104.

The controller portion104is equipped with a tilt mechanism404which allows the detachable monitor106, when plugged into the controller portion104, to be able to tilt from front to back to optimize the viewing angle. This tilt mechanism404allows the end user to easily change the viewing angle of the detachable monitor106to the most comfortable and ideal angle. The tilt mechanism404is controlled by a connector hinge816which is attached to a hinge retainer818. The hinge retainer818determines the detachable monitor's minimum and maximum tilt angulation vis-à-vis the controller portion104.

The controller handle is equipped with a pressure valve406which allows the end user to check the internal pressure inside the controller portion104before usage. To check the internal pressure, the user connects a pressure pump to the controller portion104, pumps air into the controller portion104until a certain internal pressure is reached, and leaves it for 2 to 3 minutes. In one embodiment, the internal pressure after pumping ranges from 140 mmHg to 200 mmHg. The subsequent stabilization of the pressure without any rapid decline in pressure indicates that the controller portion104has no leak. A drop in pressure is indicative of one or more leaks in the controller portion104.

The controller portion104houses some of the electronic components such as the camera driver module820.

The controller handle is also equipped with a waterproof connector402, which may also be known as a “female connector”, that allows connectivity between the detachable monitor106and the controller portion104. This connector feature has been designed to be waterproof. In particular, the female connector402is sealed to the controller handle, and the capping of the female connector402renders it waterproof. Additionally, components such as an O-ring are used to ensure a tight fit and waterproofing capabilities between the female connector402and the controller portion104. This enables the controller portion104to be soaked by the end user in harsh chemicals for high level disinfection purposes.

Detachable Monitor

The detachable monitor106may be an LCD monitor. In the embodiment shown inFIG.14, the detachable monitor106comprises an LCD monitor electronics housing1402, an “on/off” button1406, and a touchscreen1404. In the rear side perspective view of the detachable monitor106shown inFIG.15, a waterproof connector1502.

The detachable monitor106is built to incorporate touchscreen function which provides for ease of use to the end user as well as familiarity with the system. The end user is able to tap the screen with a light touch of their fingers, or while wearing gloves, to enable various functionalities such as choosing to start a new scoping session, for reviewing past recorded media or choosing the device code name, which allows the user to differentiate this particular device from another. The detachable monitor106is also equipped with a connector1502, also known as a “male connector” (shown inFIG.15), that is adapted to engage with the female connector402on the controller portion104and allows connectivity between the detachable monitor106and the controller portion104.

Advantageously, the detachable monitor106can be connected to the controller portion104directly without requiring a cable.

The signal from the camera module driver820is transmitted from the camera module driver820of the controller portion104to a mainboard housed in the detachable monitor106and subsequently to the screen1404of the monitor, thereby displaying an image on the screen. Despite featuring a touchscreen1404, the detachable monitor106is also built to withstand wipe-downs with alcohol solutions so as to prevent cross contamination between patients after each use.

Apart from immediate viewing of live camera images on a planned compact 4″ (or any suitably sized monitor such as 3.5″) built-in high-resolution LCD monitor (‘live mode’), the device is designed to incorporate media (photo and video) recording and playback functions (‘review mode’). The monitor resolution may be at least 400×400 for clear visualization. This allows clinicians to re-evaluate or review the captured images/videos at a later time or to share any key findings after the procedure. Users can also toggle between ‘live’ and ‘review’ modes easily. The media recorded by the device can be transferred via USB, such as via USB port1602shown inFIG.16, to a computer for later viewing as well. USB port1602may be a USB-C port for charging and for data transfer/export.

During scoping sessions, white balance is critical for the end user to effectively view the tissues in patients. In the present invention, the white balance feature is automated.

Overall, the device is constructed to contain modular parts that can be easily removed and assembled up to 5,000 times thanks to its deliberate plug and play design mechanism between the detachable monitor106and the controller portion104. The term “plug and play” refers to the feature of the device being ready to use immediately when first connected, without requiring reconfiguration or adjustment by the user. Such modularity also renders flexibility to the user in switching between different scopes (for example, flexible scopes and portions, and handles) for various use cases and different models of screens when future generations are made available. The detachable monitor106may be used with different versions of the controller portion104which may be attached or connected to flexible portions102having different lengths, tip1002diameters etc. so as to provide for the possibility of catering to different surgical specialties other than the head and neck cancers that may be used for this invention. Also, advantageously, this invention does not have any ancillary equipment (such as suction pump and biopsy forceps). In other words, unlike conventional endoscopes, the device of this invention does not have a “working channel” or lumen for containing ancillary equipment which makes it easy to use and maintain, and portable. Here, there is no need for reprocessing machines to clean and disinfect the insides of the lumen of conventional endoscopes.

The detachable monitor106includes rechargeable batteries, allowing for the endoscope100to be used continuously for up to 4 hours, which is longer than the typical 30 minutes of usage duration in similar handheld endoscope devices in the prior art. Beneficially, the lengthened duration of use per charge also increases the suitability of the present endoscope100for fieldwork. The endoscope100can be charged via a USB port1602on the detachable monitor106. The battery life of the device may be displayed on the monitor106for efficient planning of device usage.

CONCLUSION

Thus, it can be seen that the present disclosure provides a flexible medical endoscope that is portable, low-cost and reusable.

Advantageously, the portable, low-cost and reusable endoscope100of the present disclosure facilitates patient examination by doctors in primary care settings at local district and provincial hospitals. As such, it allows for early diagnosis of cancers, even in less economically developed countries. Furthermore, patient care burden at national specialty hospitals can be greatly reduced, with attention refocused to conditions that truly require tertiary care (i.e. advanced cancer).

Furthermore, the pistol grip302of the endoscope of the present disclosure is more ergonomic for the user as compared to the conventional power grip that is present in the majority of endoscopes currently on the market. Furthermore, the pistol grip302allows for improved control and ease of use of the device. In particular, the pistol grip302is more comfortable and intuitive for new users. Pistol grips302are suitable when the force is applied in the same direction as the extended forearm and wrist, such as in the case of the endoscope of the present disclosure. The ergonomic advantages of the pistol grip302over the power grip may be attributed to the lower ergonomic stress required for supination of the pistol grip, handle grip angle of between 45-90 deg, less power required to hold the endoscope, and reduced force required to manipulate the control lever. Compared to the power grip, the use of a pistol grip302allows the flexible medical endoscope100to be less bent and more linear during examination. This potentially reduces friction between the endoscope100and the nasopharyngeal mucosa, allowing for more efficient manipulation of the endoscope100.

Another important advantage is that the bending section1004at the distal end of the flexible portion102is engineered to withstand frequent bending without damage to the bending section1004. This advantage of high durability of the bending section1004is in part conferred by the materials used to manufacture the bending section1004and the bending rubber1202. As such, the medical endoscope100of the present disclosure can be reused multiple times before requiring replacement of the bending rubber1202. The risk of fluid invasion due to holes and tears in the bending section1004is also minimised.

Another advantage of the endoscope of the present disclosure is that the materials used and the design of the external portion of the flexible portion102and controller portion104are waterproof and are connected in a watertight manner so as to allow the device to undergo high level disinfection soaking during the reprocessing procedure. As such, detaching the monitor106from the controller portion104allows the entire flexible portion102and controller portion104to be submerged in fluid for high level disinfection. In contrast to single-use endoscopes, which require some parts to be disposable due to the inability to of these parts to withstand high level disinfection processes, the endoscope100of the present disclosure is able to maintain waterproof integrity and can be fully reprocessed after each use.