Booming Market of Single-use Scopes with Tiny Imagers.
The increasing concern of cross-contamination is a main factor driving the adoption of single-use endoscopes. Growing number of approvals from regulatory bodies, such as U.S. FDA, are promoting the availability of single-use scopes in the market and positively affecting the growth of the market.
Single-use & Slim Endoscope is the Future.
- Cross-contamination due to sterilization of reusable devices on “Top 10 Health Technology Hazards” list.
- Maintenance cost reduction from repairs, pre-procedure testing, sterilization etc.
- Downtime reduction for high FIN return of hospital.
- Lower cost drives up demand for surgery.
- Tiny imager with high resolution makes single-use endoscope possible.
Medical Environment vs. Requirements
Hospital
Doctor’s office/clinic
Home
Environment→Parameter↓ | Hospital | Doctor's office/clinic | Home |
| Procedures | All | ENT, Airway management, Orthopaedics, Women's health | Cholesterol, Blood, Diabetes |
| Size | Large - small | Medium - small | Small |
| Complexity | High | Medium | Low |
| Cleaning | Comprehensive | Easy | Easy |
| Automation | Low | Medium | High |
| Channels | Direct / Disti | Direct / Disti | Pharmacy / Retail |
| Price | High | Medium | Low |
| Volume | Low / Medium | Medium / High | High |
Reusable vs. Single-use Endoscope
Single-use endoscopes/catheters have advantages over reusable flexible devices that could have sterilization issues.
Ultra-small Size Imager Boost the New Technology and Procedures.
Addition of imaging to currently “blind” devices / procedures
- Stent procedures
- Spinal discectomy
- Surgical clip appliers
- Wound staplers
- Vein harvesters
- Biopsy
- Endoscopic tools
- Catheters + guide wires
New procedures made possible due to small size
- Cranial Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Spinal
- Cardiovascular
PointScope Focuses on Tiny Size Imager.
Neurological, ophthalmic, cardiac, spinal, urologic and gynecologic imaging procedures require small-outer-diameter endoscopes.
Cross-contamination, costly repairs, pre-procedure testing, sterilization and reusable-device downtime are driving the trend toward single-use endoscopes.
PointScope focuses on products with higher resolution, better image quality and lower cost than fiber optics.
