FIBRE-OPTIC LIGHT SOURCE

Typical Number in Hospital: 10

Cost Bands: 3

References:

Illumination within the cavities of the body during endoscopy is usually provided using a flexible fibre-optic light pipe within the endoscope coupled to a high-intensity light source outside the body. The light source is a standard piece of operating theatre equipment with a receptacle to accommodate the fibre bundles from various types of endoscope. Inside the unit is one or more high-intensity tungsten filament lamps, usually fan cooled, and a lens system to focus the light on to the end of the fibre bundle. Some devices include a xenon tube to provide high- intensity flashes for photographic endoscopy.

These are sometimes called cold light sources since a high- intensity illumination can be provided without heat in the endoscope. Previously endoscopes used small bulbs which had to operate inside the body. These were very troublesome. Using a fibre-optic light source it is possible to obtain very high levels of illumination with proper colour balance of the image. This is particularly important in some examinations (e.g. within the bladder).