We would love to have been a fly on the wall when Avantis Medical Systems, Inc. was brainstorming a name for their new colonoscope accessory that allows a rear view from an advancing colonoscope. We all know that hindsight is 20/20, and most of our readers will have heard of a retrospectoscope, an imaginary instrument that would have helped resolve a diagnostic dilemma when viewed from behind. Rectospectroscope must have been on the list somewhere…but lets digress!
Seriously, the Third Eye Retroscope brings a significant advantage to the endosuite table.
From a press release by the American College of Gastroenterology:
“Although colonoscopy is currently the best method available for colorectal cancer screening, we know that lesions may be missed, especially if they are located behind folds in the colon wall and behind flexures, or tight turns in the colon,” said Scott Dodson, CEO of Avantis Medical Systems, Inc., developer of the Third Eye Retroscope. “The Third Eye Retroscope is designed to solve that problem by making it possible for endoscopists to see the areas behind those folds and flexures”. Previous research has revealed that 12-24% of polyps and a significant number of cancers can be missed during colonoscopy.
This innovative new device is passed through the instrument channel of a standard colonoscope. As it emerges from the channel and extends beyond the tip of the colonoscope, the device automatically turns around 180 degrees to provide a retrograde view. The endoscopist observes the forward and retrograde video images simultaneously on a split-screen monitor while the colonoscope is withdrawn through the length of the colon.
Renowned gastroenterologist Douglas K. Rex, MD presented results from a multi-institutional clinical study that evaluated the efficacy of the Third Eye(R) Retroscope(R) in the 249 patients…262 polyps were identified with the standard colonoscope. “However, using the Third Eye Retroscope in conjunction with the standard colonoscope, an additional 34 polyps were detected, including 15 adenomas,” said Dr. Rex. “Also very importantly, in 11.2 percent of cases, at least one additional polyp was found using the Third Eye Retroscope. In eight of the patients, the polyp detected with the Third Eye Retroscope was the only one found.”
The Third Eye Retroscope has been cleared for use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as a device to provide retrograde illumination and visualization of the colon.
Press release: National Study Presented at ACG 2008 Confirms New Device Functions Like ‘Rear-View Mirror’ to Provide Improved View of the Colon…
Avantis Medical Website…
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