Colonoscopes are used to remove foreign bodies, excise tumors or colorectal polyps (polypectomy), and control bleeding. These devices consist of a proximal housing, a flexible insertion tube, and an "umbilical cord," connecting the proximal housing to the light source. Colonoscopes have several open channels for suction, water, and air supply as well as for the insertion of accessory instruments and cannulas. The distal tip of video colonoscopes contains a charge-coupled device (CCD) that acts as a small camera and electronically transmits image from the CCD to an external video processing unit. Routine colonoscopy is important in diagnosing intestinal cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer-led deaths in the US. These endoscopic procedures reduce the need for invasive surgical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures...Read more