Two kinds of small diameter scope for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy are accomplished by Machida : they are f ibergastrointestinal scopes FGI-SD and FGI-SO. SD stands for small diameter with direct(forward) view and SO for small diameter with oblique view. FGI-SD is 9.8 mm ∅ in diameter with forward view, and FGI-SO is 8.8mm ∅ with oblique view of 30°. The visual angle is fairly wide of 80°, and the focus is fixed with 4-90mm visual distance. The apex flexes in four directions, 180° up and 90° down, and 120° bilaterally. Both of these scopes are well equipped with biopsy function. The main characteristic is its great extent of flexibility due to small diameter, which successfully covers possible mechanical demerits of forward view, mainly in the observation of the stomach, for which lateral view has been considered most suitable. With the present scope of FGI, lesions on the lesser curvature and/or on the posterior wall are successfully observed as en face, owing to the extraordinary flexibility of the scope. The fiberscopes used for the upper G-I endoscopy, at present, are fiberesophagoscope (FES), fibergastroscope (FGS-BL), fiberduodenoscope (FDS) and panviewfiberscope (PFS). The frequency in use of these scopes was 12.0%, 38.1%, 17.9% and 32.0% respectively in its order before FGI was accomplished. After this scope of small diameter FGI was introduced, the frequency, however, has changed greatly into 5.2%, 31.9%, 9.3%, and 6.2% respectively. The remarkable changes were the frequencies in use of FES, FDS and PFS, decreasing from 12.0%, to 5.2%, from 17.9% to 9.3% and from 32.0% to 6.2% respectively. And the frequency in use of this FGI was far up to 47.4% this year, which was almost a half of all cases examined. This interesting result strongly suggests that FES, FDS and PFS were greatly replaced of its role by the new small diameter scope FGI in the routine upper G-I examination, being restricted mainly to the precise examination in each part. At the same time, this figure of 47.4% fluently certificates the useful availability of FGI as an universal scope for the routine observation of the esophagus, stomach and duodenal bulb. The mechanical principles of the fiberscope consist of abilities of image resolution, observation, function (flexibility, controllability, biopsy facilities, etc.), documentation and durability. These principles will, however, contradict each other. When the diameter is decreased and flexibility is accordingly increased, for example, resolution power will inevitably decrease. But, owing to enormous technical progress, these mechanical principles are so well balanced and co-ordinated as to produce an ideal scope FGI-SD or FGI-SO. With this one scope, the esophagus, stomach and bulb are easily surveyed. But, it should be always reminded that a perfect survey should be performed from corner to corner and possible inferiority of image resolution or demerits of forward view in the examination of the stomach could be possibly covered only by close-up observation, which is successfully secured by its supreme flexibility. When this fundamental attitude is preserved throughout the examination, then, in the strict sense, this scope FGI would be properly evaluated as an universal scope for the routine upper G-I endoscopy.
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