Project Description:

Laparoscopic surgery is inaccessible in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs), due to the high cost and unreliable conditions affecting the performance of the laparoscope. There are 13 million laparoscopic procedures performed globally each year; however, only 3.5% occur in LMICs. In efforts to increase this number, visiting Global health surgeons provide procedures in mobile hospitals or donate old equipment to local hospitals. However, the high cost of laparoscopic systems and lack of technicians and components in LMICs make it difficult for clinics to obtain and maintain the medical equipment. Our team created a device that repurposes a commercial borescope, typically used for plumbing. Its unique specs are deemed to be adaptive to the medical field as it has a built in camera and 8 adjustable LED system which works similar to a high-end laparoscope system. The device has a bendable extension at the tip that allows the user to mechanically flex the camera to a desirable angle; with the assistance of other laparoscopic instruments such as graspers, an already common surgical technique. To follow FDA regulations, thermal tests were conducted to ensure the heat the device exerts does not reach temperatures to cause 1st degree burns (46 °C). Image quality was compared through specs of the borescope and laparoscopes on the market. Moreover the borescope directly connects to a monitor of choice reducing the number of wires in the operating room and has a 16 ft long cable connection ensuring the ability to have the monitor at the foot end of the operating table, to maintain common practice. The single unit design makes it easy to sterilize chemically or in an autoclave. The GloSCOPE condenses the camera box, video capture unit, light source and monitor into one effective and accessible device.