Seems a bad rubber ring kills - Olympus scopes

[ez24]

Dave once talked about a rubber band that cost the company millions. 

Seems a bad rubber ring can kill people

http://graphics.latimes.com/superbug-scope/

Again another company hiding dangerous conditions like GM and less so VW 

I just wonder if people should try and find out the equipment that is used for a procedure so they can research it for dangers?  I wonder if even we have the right to do so?

[Fraser]

Now that is a truly scary story.

If the accusations are true, Olympus should be taken to the cleaners by the victims,  families and Government legal department. Concealing a known  potential superbug transmission medium within one of your equipments is unforgivable. You go to hospital to be cared for not killed.

[Muttley Snickers]

We have and I assume most countries have a product warning and recall web site run by a government department, It is surprising to see some of the name brand products frequently listed and I strongly suspect that notifications are more prevalent after a serious incident rather than before.

More often than not the general public is unaware unless they actively seek the relevant information which may not even be be available to your average Joe, not everyone goes on a hunt for a tiny note in the back of a daily newspaper either.

[G7PSK]

Why do they still use fibre optic scopes USB type scopes are now so small and cheap they could be use once and thrown away.

[Fraser]

Video endoscopes are now common but these endoscopes have high imaging performance combined with a steerable tool head to carrying out internal surgery. They have to be medical safety rated and that adds zero's to the price.

On a slightly different topic, a relative of mine had an internal inspection using one of those clever 'camera in a capsule' devices. The capsule is single use for good reason as it comes all the way through the intestines and colon. They are very expensive which sadly limits their deployment under the UK NHS.

As you state disposable endoscopes would be a great idea. Even if it was 'just' the part that enters the body. What price a life ?

Fraser

[daqq]

Why do they still use fibre optic scopes USB type scopes are now so small and cheap they could be use once and thrown away.

Anything that is certified for medical use inside a patient will get several times as expensive and go through a lot of certifications. I'm guessing that at the end of the day it's cheaper to buy one pricey one, than to buy good ones in bulk and throw them away.

edit:
Note: I'm all for high quality and sterile instruments, but I don't think that you can build a disposable endoscope with comparable functions cheaply enough to be a viable alternative to a normal one.

Also, what is the state of high temperature electronics/electronics materials? Would it be possible to build a camera, that could survive (not function) at, say, 200 deg C (or 300 or whatever it takes)? Well enough for cheap and effective heat sterilization. Perhaps it might actually sterilize itself?

[amyk]

Title somewhat reminded me of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

After reading the story, also this:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/sears-kenmore-whirlpool-washer-mold-problem!-argh!/

To me, it seems like the problem comes from the part that goes inside the body not being all one piece. Would a long transparent plastic sleeve (possibly disposable) over the whole thing, like a glove, work?

[KJDS]

To me, it seems like the problem comes from the part that goes inside the body not being all one piece. Would a long transparent plastic sleeve (possibly disposable) over the whole thing, like a glove, work?

Whilst that might work for a camera, the endoscope also has surgical tools in it.