Reilly's sales pitch starts with Cantel's strong position as disinfection experts for devices called endoscopes. The scopes are metal tubes with a camera mounted on the end and lit with fiber-optic cable. Flexible endoscopes look deep inside a patient's colon, intestines or lungs. The camera transmits to a monitor. Physicians scour the images for signs of early-stage tumors and cysts that might lead to cancer.
Rigid endoscopes are the tools that gave rise to minimally invasive surgery.
The scopes don't actually perform the surgery, but allow surgeons to see to get the job done. Both types of scopes and related equipment are used time and again. After each use they must be thoroughly disinfected. Any mistake in the process can lead to nosocomial infections. Minneapolis-based Medivators Inc. The deal let Reilly take two steps in his campaign to revitalize a group of struggling, diversified businesses.