Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Endo-Surgery is releasing an updated version of the company’s 
ENDOPATH XCEL trocar, now featuring OPTIVIEW technology for cleaning around the endoscope’s lens. A smeared lens and poor visualization commonly occur by going through a trocar with an endoscope, hence by evacuating liquids from the visual path the firm promises to “virtually eliminate trocar-induced smudging”.
New OPTIVIEW™ Technology in the ENDOPATH® XCEL™ trocars is designed to carefully wipe bodily fluid or debris from the endoscope shaft and draw the fluid through wicking channels out radially towards the absorbent ring. The fluid is then contained within the absorbent ring, keeping the endoscope clear upon trocar reinsertion, thus helping to provide optimal views of the surgical field. This trocar with superior visualization is equipped to provide the established performance of previous ENDOPATH® XCEL(tm) trocars, including seal durability, low drag force, abdominal wall retention and low port site herniation.
ENDOPATH XCEL trocar product page…
Press release below the fold:
ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY LAUNCHES TROCAR WITH NOVEL TECHNOLOGY FOR SUPERIOR SURGICAL VISUALIZATION
ENDOPATH® XCEL(tm) with OPTIVIEW(tm) Technology Designed to Mitigate Trocar-Induced Smudging
CINCINNATI – March 12, 2010 – Ethicon Endo-Surgery today announced the launch of the ENDOPATH® XCEL(tm) with OPTIVIEW(tm) Technology, the first and only trocar specifically designed to provide superior visualization by virtually eliminating trocar-induced smudging. Trocar-induced smudging, a common occurrence during minimally invasive surgery, can be disruptive to surgeons.
"To maintain optimal visualization, repeated cleaning of the endoscope lens is often required when trocar-induced smudging occurs. This process of re-cleaning the lens can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience that unnecessarily lengthens and disrupts the procedure," said Barry McKernan*, M.D., a pioneer of minimally invasive surgery. "The ENDOPATH® XCEL(tm) with OPTIVIEW(tm) Technology has been developed with unique technology specifically to address this challenge in surgery, which may be a valuable asset to many surgeons."
Trocar-induced smudging occurs in all leading brand trocars when, during an instrument exchange, bodily fluids are wiped off and retained within the trocar’s seal system. When an endoscope needs to be removed periodically for cleaning, or to be moved to another port, these trapped fluids and debris can be applied to the endoscope lens, resulting in trocar-induced smudging. Surgeons may then need to stop the procedure to clean the lens to restore proper vision. This may occur repeatedly during a procedure.
New OPTIVIEW(tm) Technology in the ENDOPATH® XCEL(tm) trocars is designed to carefully wipe bodily fluid or debris from the endoscope shaft and draw the fluid through wicking channels out radially towards the absorbent ring. The fluid is then contained within the absorbent ring, keeping the endoscope clear upon trocar reinsertion, thus helping to provide optimal views of the surgical field.[1] This trocar with superior visualization is equipped to provide the established performance of previous ENDOPATH® XCEL(tm) trocars, including seal durability, low drag force, abdominal wall retention and low port site herniation.
About Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a Johnson & Johnson company, develops and markets advanced medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures, focusing on procedure-enabling devices for the interventional diagnosis and treatment of conditions in general and bariatric surgery, as well as gastrointestinal health, gynecology and surgical oncology. More information can be found at www.ethiconendo.com.
*Consultant to Ethicon Endo-Surgery