Medical

Surgery Applications

Surgical Diagnostic Endoscopes
Because of restricted space, relatively small bundles of lighting fibers in rigid or flexible endoscopes must be used. To adapt the larger optical cross-section, many endoscope manufacturers use a fiber cone as a an optical coupling device on the endoscope's light input. In comparison with a lens system, a fiber cone can be kept to very compact dimensions providing better light input. SCHOTT's fiber cones meet the strict requirements for high transmission even after several thousand autoclave and disinfection cycles.

Endoscopes are instruments used to visualize the inner surfaces of a hollow object via a small entrance hole. The objects can be the human body, animal body or mechanical bodies. Therefore, the markets are divided in medical, veterinary and industrial endoscopes.

The type of endoscope depends on the focus of the examination through natural and artificial openings. Medical endoscopes are divided into categories such as gastro-intestinal instruments (Gastroscope; colonoscope; sigmoidoscope), airway instruments (bronchoscope; nasopharyngoscope), urological instruments and miscellaneous instruments. Veterinary instruments accomplish similar tasks.

Industrial endoscopes are used for machine inspection in the market areas of aviation (e.g. turbines), law enforcement (e.g. customs) and machinery and equipment inspection.

The state-of-the-art imaging transfer method is video technology. A lens system with video chip is positioned in the distal (looking at the object to examine) side of the endoscope and transfers an electrical signal to the video processor and monitor.

An alternative technology for image transfer is via an ordered array of glass fibers from the distal (looking at the object to examine) side of the endoscope. This has advantages in applications such as electromagnetic and temperature neutral imaging devices.

SCHOTT Lighting and Imaging is an independent producer of image bundles , which provides product to several endoscope producers or endoscope repair stations. SCHOTT Lighting and Imaging supplies image bundles within its capabilities to customers worldwide.

SCHOTT Lighting and Imaging is ISO 9001:2000 registered

Leached Image Bundles

Light Guides

Tapers

In flexible and rigid endoscopes light conducting fiber bundles are used to illuminate the viewing area. For this purpose SCHOTT manufactures fibers which exhibit the following properties:

Excellent transmission
High numerical aperture (large acceptance angle)
Very good autoclavability

Leached Technology
SCHOTT's leached image bundles are utilized in a variety of fiber optic endoscopes found in today's medical, veterinary and industrial markets. Today's sophisticated ear, nose, throat and urological procedures utilize high resolution flexible image bundles for image transfer. Our image bundles are available from very small up to large diameters.

Wound Technology
In addition to our leached image products, SCHOTT also manufactures wound flexible image components. This alternative fiber ribbon stacking method produces larger rectangular image formats. Custom applications include vision systems found within the MRI.

Surgical Microscopes
Light guides are used in surgical microscopy for illumination in the operation area because they:

exhibit excellent transmission properties
transmit bright white light
have a wide angle for illumination
have excellent color rendering.

SCHOTT supplies light guides with high quality light conducting fibers in accordance with the design issued by the customer.
These light guides can be produced with temperature-resistant ends at either one or both ends.
For use with high-power light sources, SCHOTT developed a unique end termination to increase the long-term operating safety of light guides in the upper temperature range (up to 350°C). Furthermore, light transmission is increased by about 15%.