IMS Flexible Endoscope Insertion Tube Technical Excellence

Insertion tube replacement should only be performed by companies capable of restoring the original integrity and functionality of the endoscope. Like the manufacturers, IMS possesses these capabilities.

IMS is committed to servicing and/or repairing your flexible endoscopes so that they are returned to the manufacturer's original performance standards. Below, four areas of insertion tube functional performance are listed with a discussion of the IMS protocol for excellence and equivalence to manufacturer performance.

Overall Construction of Insertion Tube

Overall flexibility / rigidity of Insertion Tube

Precision application of torque to bending section

Physician-controlled application of variable stiffness

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Functional Characteristic / Performance:

Overall Construction of Insertion Tube

IMS Protocol for Excellence and Equivalence to Manufacturer Performance:

IMS insertion tubes are equivalent to the manufacturer's insertion tubes in design, materials, and construction. This is true for all insertion tubes, regardless of size or clinical use. Functional and material parameters include physical length and diameter, flexibility / stiffness, outer covering, markings, and solid coil construction.

As an example, the photograph above shows the construction of an IMS colonoscope insertion tube as compared to the manufacturer's tube and a third party tube. The IMS insertion tube has double-coil construction equivalent to the manufacturer's tube. In addition, all other aspects of construction - including wire mesh, covering, markings, etc. - are also well defined for the IMS tube and are equivalent to the manufacturer's tube.

Ensuring Excellence and Equivalence in:

• Design and construction of all IMS insertion tubes

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Functional Characteristic / Performance:

Overall flexibility / rigidity of Insertion Tube

IMS Protocol for Excellence and Equivalence to Manufacturer Performance:

IMS precisely measures the basic flexibility / stiffness of insertion tubes at several known points along the tube using a proprietary force-displacement apparatus (shown below). All testing is objective rather than subjective, ensuring equivalence with the manufacturer.

A known amount of force is placed on the tube and the amount of displacement or "flex" is measured. This is accomplished for both the manufacturer insertion tubes and IMS insertion tubes to make certain that flexibility / stiffness is consistent between the IMS tube and the manufacturer tube.

This test is conducted at two points in the overall process. First, incoming insertion tubes are tested prior to installation on flexible endoscopes. Then, following installation, the restored endoscope is tested on this apparatus to ensure that the insertion tube with its internal components meets the manufacturer's original performance standards for overall flexibility and rigidity.

Ensuring Excellence and Equivalence in:

• Flexibility / Stiffness
• Column strength (Prevention of buckling and compression)
• Tube rotation (1:1 ratio from proximal end of tube to distal end of tube)
• Elasticity (Ability to return to a straightened condition)

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Functional Characteristic / Performance:

Precision application of torque to bending section

IMS Protocol for Excellence and Equivalence to Manufacturer Performance:

IMS flexible endoscope angulation system repairs are rigorously tested to ensure equivalence with the manufacturers. All testing is objective rather than subjective, ensuring that the bending section angulates to the correct angle for a given amount of torque exerted by the endoscopist.

Torque meters, as shown above, are used with endoscope control knob adapters to measure precise torque input. Used in conjunction with angulation charts, these meters synchronize imparted torque with the amount of distal end angulation. These quantitative, objective measurements, which are compared to pristine endoscopes, eliminate the subjectivity surrounding whether the angulation system is too "tight" or too "loose".

Ensuring Excellence and Equivalence in:

• Amount of distal bending section angulation
• Force required to impart specific bending section angulation (Precise, consistent output for a given input)

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Functional Characteristic / Performance:

Physician-controlled application of variable stiffness

IMS Protocol for Excellence and Equivalence to Manufacturer Performance:

IMS can repair all facets of the flexible endoscope variable stiffness function.

The variable stiffness function is created by the use of a constriction wire within a coil pipe assembly. It is much like a biopsy forcep that does not have the forcep function in place.

When the variable stiffness control knob is turned for an increased stiffness, the wire constricts, causing it to straighten - and thus stiffen the insertion tube. The demonstration tool below shows how constriction of the wire leads to stiffening of the insertion tube.

IMS has the expertise and all of the parts necessary to perform repairs on the flexible endoscope variable stiffness function.

Ensuring Excellence and Equivalence in:

• Flexibility / Stiffness
• Column strength (Prevention of buckling)
• Physician control of variable stiffness

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