Air Water : Researchers Develop World’s First Needle-Sized Ultrafine Disposable Endoscope Using Graded-Index Plastic Optical Fiber —Novel endoscope simplifies preoperative joint endoscopic examinations and postoperative follow-ups―

Keio University (President: Kohei Itoh) and Air Water Inc. (Chairman & CEO: Kikuo Toyoda) have successfully developed the world's first ultra-fine rigid endoscope utilizing graded-index plastic optical fiber (GI-POF) technology. The researchers at Keio University were Professor Yasuhiro Koike, Director of the Keio Photonics Research Institute (KPRI), and Professor Masaya Nakamura of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Keio University School of Medicine.

The new endoscope has a GI-POF lens tip which can transmit images from inside the body to the outside of the body. GI-POF lenses can be fabricated with outer diameters as thin as 0.1mm to 0.5mm, allowing minimally invasive (less physically taxing for patients) observation of the inside of joints. Furthermore, the low cost of production allows for lenses to be single-use (disposable) like syringe needles.

Ultra-fine rigid endoscopes allow doctors to directly observe a patient's joints before and after surgery in a minimally invasive manner, enabling rapid and accurate assessment of the patient's condition and efficient post-operative follow-up. Conventional joint endoscopy involves general anesthesia and hospitalization. The ultra-fine rigid endoscope only requires local anesthesia for patients, allowing examination and treatment on an outpatient basis or at patients' homes, greatly reducing the physical toll for patients and the burden on medical facilities.