There's no shortage of innovative products to meet the specialized demands and concerns of the endoscopy industry. Here's a look at more than 20 products that promise to make your gastroenterology suites more efficient, economical and safer places. Products are listed alphabetically by company name.

3-D Technical Services
TRLCD05 Endoscopic/Laparoscopic Trainer
(937) 746-2901
www.3-Dmed.com
List Price: $1,975
FYI. The TRLCD05 is popular with physicians because of its larger, torso-like proportions, says 3-D Technical Services. Like all the company's endoscopic trainers, the unit is self-contained, including a simulated laparoscope, which mounts into any of the ports, and a 10-inch LCD monitor built into the lid. This model has 14 ports for maximum flexibility. Standard AC power runs the unit, says the company, which notes the TRLCD05 minimally invasive surgical trainer provides a controlled safe environment for surgeons to develop endoscopic and laparoscopic hand-eye coordination.

ACMI Corp.
Invisio Flexible CystoNephroscope
(888) 524-7266
www.acmicorp.com
List Price: Not provided
FYI. This 5mm-diameter, 37cm-long flexible cystonephroscope has a miniature digital video complementary metal-oxide semiconductor sensor at its tip to capture full-motion digital video. White light LEDs illuminate the surgical site, generating less heat and enhancing durability over conventional lighting, while eliminating the need for a separate high-intensity light source. Larger images and greater depth of view are possible because the scope requires one cable and connection, says ACMI. Up-gradeable built-in software automates operation for ease of use and durability.

Barrx Medical
HALO360 System
(888) 66-BARRX
www.barrx.com
Price: Not provided
FYI. Barrx Medical says its HALO360 System is a safer and more effective therapy for Barrett's Esophagus. To use the system, the surgeon opens the esophagus with a sizing balloon, then inflates a catheter in the area of the Barrett's and activates the HALO360 energy generator to deliver rapid, controlled, consistent bursts of ablative energy. This energy removes a thinner-than-1mm layer of diseased esophagus, letting healthy tissue replace the ablated tissue in three to four weeks, Barrx says.

Bovie Medical
Bovie Button
(800) 537-2790
www.boviemedical.com
Price: $22 each
FYI. To help physicians and nurses find the foot pedal in darkened procedure rooms during GI procedures, Bovie Medical created the Bovie Button. The single-use device is compatible with most snares. It is said to eliminate the foot pedal and cables associated with standard electrosurgical generators, avoiding inadvertent disconnection of the generator during surgery, says Bovie.

Cygnus Medical
Caterpillar Channel Brush
(800) 990-7489
www.cygnusmedical.com
List Price: $2 each
FYI. The Caterpillar Channel Brush is pulled through a scope instead of pushed, getting better contact and avoiding buckling, says Cygnus. Debris is pulled out, keeping it from backing up the channel. Thanks to its length (12 inches) and 86,000 bristles, the brush showed a 2.6-log reduction in bioburden removed in a study. Standard 1-inch brushes had a 1.5-log reduction.

Encision
enTouch AEM Laparoscopic Instruments
(800) 998-0986
www.encision.com
List Price: Not provided
FYI. The enTouch family of handles are available on Encision's articulating instruments and offer the surgeon a lightweight design for smooth operation and more predictable control, says the company. Encision says its AEM technology shields and monitors instruments to prevent stray energy burns along the shaft caused by insulation failure or capacitive coupling. All of the company's AEM instruments have a protective built-in shield, providing a neutral return path for capacitively coupled energy and protection from insulation failure, according to the manufacturer.

E-Z-EM
CO2Efficient
(800) 544-4624
www.ezem.com
List Price: $7,795
FYI: The CO2Efficient endoscopic insufflator blows CO2 into the upper and lower GI tracts, distending them for visualization. CO2 is said to be better than room air for insufflation because it is more readily absorbed and expelled, minimizing cramping. The insufflator attaches to the scope's water bottle, so you don't need specialized CO2 air and water valves, regulators and flow meters, says E-Z-EM. The trademarked software regulates gas flow to minimize CO2 waste.

Fujinon, Inc.
4400 System
(800) 490-0661
www.fujinonendoscopy.com
Price: $34,000 for the basic configuration
FYI: The EPX-4400's Fuji Intelligent Color Enhancement and HD imaging create precision pictures that can be digitally stored on a network or flash media card inserted in the processor unit. It also has automatic light control and a switch to attach and detach the scope without turning it off.

Healthmark Industries
EndoCheck
(800) 521-6224
www.hmark.com
Price: Not provided
FYI: The EndoCheck is a chemistry kit used to check cleanliness of the biopsy channel of flexible endoscopes. Simply swab the channel with the long cotton-tipped probe, clip off the cotton swab into green-capped vial, and mix in the activating agent. Shake vigorously and wait 20 seconds. If the color changes to blue/green, you know at least 0.1ug blood residue has remained.

InnerSpace Corporation
Easy Reach Scope Manager
(800) 467-7224
www.innerspacecorp.com
Price: Not provided
FYI. Easy Reach Scope Managers are available in standard InnerSpace scope cabinets, says the company. The standard cabinets feature a padded rear wall and removable drip tray. Available upgrades include an air circulation fan, keyless-entry and touchpad lock system. For storing, a counterbalanced support raises to an upright position, allowing scopes to hang straight. The counterbalance then lowers the scopes to a reachable level when needed. Easy Reach Scope Mabinets store either four or six scopes, according to the manufacturer.

Karl Storz
Flex-X2 Uretero-Reno-Fiberscope
(800) 421-0837
www.karlstorz.com
Price: Not provided
FYI. With a 270-degree up-and-down deflection and intuitive single-lever control, the Flex-X2 Uretero-Reno-Fiberscope eases entry into the lower pole calyces and the renal collecting system, says Karl Storz. The instrument's ergonomically designed handle and light weight provides operating comfort, while the 7.5 Fr. distal shaft allows easy access. The laser-resistant distal tip helps resolve scope damage caused by laser burns, and its crush-resistance reduces repair downtime, says Karl Storz.

Medtronix Xomed ENT
VSI Endosheath System
(800) 874-5797
www.medtronicent.com
Price: Ranges from $10 for a basic sheath to $40 for an esophagoscopy sheath.
FYI: The VSI Endosheath System, distributed by Medtronic Xomed ENT, is a sterile, disposable, latex-free barrier designed to cover a variety of manufacturers' ENT scopes to protect and preserve the equipment. The Endosheath lets you turn scopes around more rapidly, increase staff productivity, decrease dependency on germicides, and enhance protection of patients, staff and equipment. The Endosheath covers the semi-critical insertion tube, which comes in contact with mucosal tissues, providing an increased level of protection for the patient. After using the scope, you don't need to perform high-level disinfection or a cold-chemical soak (obviating the need for several back-up scopes). You simply remove and dispose of the Endosheath and clean the scope with a surgical detergent or enzyme wipe. You then disinfect it with an intermediate level disinfection wipe.

N.M. Beale Company
Baleen Polyp Trap
(800) 989-9558
www.nmbco.com
Price: $100 for a case of 100
FYI: To help your nurses capture even the smallest of polyps more efficiently, the Baleen Polyp Trap was created. Unlike an in-line filter, which doesn't catch all polyps and forces nurses to fish them out with tweezers, this screened device goes inside the colonoscope tubing, allowing fluid to go through the netting and leaving only the polyps. The result is that fishing for polyps can be eliminated.

Olympus Surgical America
Evis Exera II
(800) 548-5515
www.olympussurgical.com
List Price: $22,000
FYI. Olympus's Evis Exera II combines narrow band with high-definition imaging to enhance observation of pit patterns and differentiation of lesions. It features more lines (versus 576) and better horizontal resolution than conventional video systems, says Olympus. NBI is used because tissue absorbs and scatters narrow-band light differently in the mucosa than white light, emphasizing the contrast between small vessels and normal tissue. Once images are captured, the system can transfer and archive the images in digital format.

Pentax Medical Company
Confocal Endomicroscopy
(800) 431-5880
www.pentaxmedical.com
Price: depends on options and setup
FYI: Pentax Medical's Confocal Endomicroscopy system magnifies images up to 1,000 times with digital zoom or up to 500 times without it. With optical resolution of about 0.001mm on the tip of a standard flexible endoscope, you get sharply focused, high-resolution images direct from the lower GI tract.

Pentax Medical Company
Motion Picture Studio
(800) 431-5880
www.pentaxmedical.com
Price: depends on options, setup and user licensing
FYI: Pentax Medical's Motion Picture Studio software, an add-on module to the company's endoPRO workstation, lets you record, save, index and edit still images and full-motion, real-time video documentation of endoscopic procedures. You can export recordings to CD, DVD or software, and supply audio commentary or nursing notes to use the videos as procedure reports or additions to patient records. The module is available networked, mobile and as a standalone.

Pentax Medical Company
EG-3670URK Radial Array Ultrasound Endoscope
(800) 431-5880
www.pentaxmedical.com
Price: depends on options and setup
FYI: Images are improved by the color Radial Array Ultrasound Endoscope's 360' field of view and forward viewing, rather than a side view.

PHS West
Ergo Express - Custom, Modular, Motorized Endoscopy Carts
(888) 639-5438
www.phswest.com
Price: $3,600 (starting price to retrofit an existing cart) $6,800 (starting price for new, custom modular workstations)
FYI: One person can transport all equipment and supplies in one trip with the Ergo Express Motorized Endoscopy Workstation, the company says. More than 2,000 design configurations let you create the perfect travel cart system. The exclusive, retractable, center-mounted drive offers unique 360' maneuverability in tight spaces. If your current endo cart suits your needs but is too heavy to push, it can easily and cheaply be retrofitted with motorization. You can mount new cabinets or storage units at any time.

PHS West
OP/ER Valet
(888) 639-5438
www.phswest.com
Price: Starting at $94; tamper-evident liner starts at $0.39
FYI: The OP/ER Valet Patient Belong-ings System creates a secure, sanitary, tamper-evident system for patients' articles. Controlled access reduces time handling patient belongings, searching for possible lost items and filing unnecessary lost article incident reports. The resulting protocol is efficient and nurse- and patient-friendly.

Steris Corporation
Reliance Endoscope Processing System
(800) JIT-4-USE
www.reliance-eps.com
List Price: $38,650
FYI: The Reliance Endoscope Processing System, a high-level disinfection system designed to deliver consistent and repeatable results, arrived on the U.S. market last month, the company announced. This machine is said to be simple to load and operate, processing two flexible scopes in under 30 minutes. It kills even the most challenging organisms, provides pre-programmed decontamination cycles to prevent biofilm formation in the processor and cleans itself when you activate the automated decontamination cycle, says Steris. The Reliance EPS reduces chemical ex-posure by generating germicide in a closed, automated process.

US Endoscopy
BioShield Biopsy Irrigator
(800) 769-8226
www.usendoscopy.com
Price: Ranges from $80 to $250 per box
FYI: US Endoscopy's BioShield irrigator and extension tubing connect directly to the endoscope's water pump for hands-free, foot pedal control, says the company. While most endoscopes are not equipped with water jet irrigation, this device allows for intra-procedural irrigation. Instead of tolerating blood and other body fluids, physicians can cleanse their field of view at any time. The BioShield is made for Pentax scopes and all accessories are disposable, reducing the possibility of cross-contamination, according to US Endoscopy.

Verimetrix
Veriscan
(314) 862-0379 x14
www.verimetrix.net
Price: $460 per month (lease) $17,500 (purchase)
FYI: Veriscan Leak Testing Technology all but eliminates fluid invasions due to undetected leaks in flexible scopes, transforming this critical reprocessing procedure from a costly, hazardous guessing game into a precise, repeatable process, says the company. Fluid damage typically accounts for as much as 60 percent of total scope repair costs. The Veriscan features innovative measurement, processing and data capture technology and a standardized step-by-step leak testing algorithm to deliver unmatched leak detection accuracy test after test. The result: A dramatic reduction in the incidence of damage-causing undetected leaks during reprocessing, which significantly lowers flexible endoscope repair costs and the risk of dangerous cross-patient cross-contamination, says Verimetrix.