Medical gastroscopy equipment

Gastroscopy is a medical examination technique that inserts an endoscope through the mouth or nose to directly observe lesions in the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum). It is mainly used to diagnose and treat the following diseases:

Diagnosis: gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer, esophagitis, esophageal cancer, Helicobacter pylori infection, etc.

Treatment: hemostasis, polypectomy, foreign body removal, stricture dilation, etc.

2. Types of Gastroscopes

Based on the number of uses and design, gastroscopes can be divided into disposable gastroscopes and reusable gastroscopes.

Comparison item Disposable gastroscope Reusable gastroscope

Definition Discarded after single use, no need for disinfection Can be used multiple times, strict cleaning and disinfection required each time

Material Medical grade plastic, low-cost optical components High-precision optical fiber or electronic sensor, durable material

Cost Low single cost, no disinfection cost High initial purchase cost, continuous maintenance and disinfection required

Infection risk Almost zero (avoid cross infection) There is a risk of infection due to incomplete disinfection

Image quality May be slightly lower than earlier products, but new technologies have improved High definition (such as electronic gastroscope), clearer images

Applicable scenarios Emergency, infectious disease patients, primary medical institutions Routine examinations, high-frequency use of tertiary hospitals

Environmental protection There are medical waste disposal problems More environmentally friendly (long-term use)

Representative brands Anhan Technology (China), Boston Scientific (USA) Olympus (Japan), Fuji (Japan)

III. Advantages and limitations of disposable gastroscopes

Advantages:

Eliminate cross infection (such as hepatitis B, HIV, Helicobacter pylori).

No need for complex disinfection process, saving time and manpower.

Suitable for resource-poor areas or public health emergencies.

Limitations:

Long-term use may increase the burden of medical waste.

Some cheap products have low image resolution.

IV. Advantages and challenges of repetitive gastroscopy

Advantages

Higher image quality (4K ultra-clear, NBI narrow-band imaging).

Support complex treatments (such as ESD, EMR and other surgeries).

Better long-term cost-effectiveness (high-frequency use scenarios).

Challenges:

Strict disinfection requirements (must follow WS/T 367 specifications).

High maintenance costs (such as lens damage, pipeline aging).

V. Technology development trends

Disposable gastroscope:

Material improvement (degradable plastic).

Integrated AI-assisted diagnosis (such as real-time lesion identification).

Repetitive gastroscope:

Intelligent disinfection robot.

Ultra-thin diameter design (reduce patient discomfort).

VI. Selection recommendations

Prioritize disposable gastroscopes: infectious disease prevention and control, emergency, and primary clinics.

Priority is given to repetitive gastroscopes: routine examinations in large hospitals and complex surgical needs.

VII. Regulations and standards

China: must comply with the "Medical Device Classification Catalog" (disposable is Class II, repetitive is Class III).

International: FDA (USA) and CE (EU) have strict requirements for disinfection and biocompatibility.

VIII. Future Outlook

With the advancement of materials science and microelectronics technology, disposable gastroscopes may gradually replace part of the repetitive gastroscope market, especially in the field of infection control sensitivity. However, high-end treatment scenarios still rely on repetitive high-definition gastroscopes.