• Question: What are the differences, apart from the fact they are used for different parts of the human anatomy, between different endoscopes? Do they have unique characteristics? For example, what are the differences between a Colonoscope and a Laparoscope?

    Asked by Katie to Jen, Greg on 9 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Greg Melia

      Greg Melia answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      I don’t really know this one. Jen or Laura, do you know?

    • Photo: Jen Lowe

      Jen Lowe answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      I have seen a cystoscope in action (goes in the urethra into the bladder). I would guess the main differences are the diameter (limited by where it’s going) and the length needed. I presume the cameras do pretty much the same job.
      The pictures you see (either thru a small eyepiece or connected to a larger monitor in the room) are really amazing.

Comments

  • Photo: Paul

    Paul commented on :

    I thought I’d chip in on this one as I’ve done a little bit of reading on endoscopy. As far as I know, laparoscopes are very rigid and aren’t designed to bend round corners, whereas colonoscopes and bronchoscopes are designed to bend around corners and through different parts of the body. Also, I think laparoscopes are designed to penetrate through skin (like for surgery instead of making a big cut in someone to have a look they can just poke a probe in) and other endoscopes don’t. They all serve a similar purpose though, usually for imaging and sometimes biopsy collection – I can’t think really of any other differences