Endoscopic Device Streamlines Gastrointestinal Exams

A new rotatory resection tool facilitates the removal of mucosal lesions, such as polyps, along the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

The Interscope EndoRotor System provides a streamlined means to resect flat lesions in the alimentary and gastrointestinal tract via a catheter inserted into the working channel of an endoscope. The device can resect 3–5 mm lesions in a single tap, once the vacuum function is engaged. As the rotating resecting blade cuts the tissue, it is drawn into the device via suction; the sample is then transported via suction to a specimen trap. Specimen collection is not influenced by tissue morphology (flat/sessile/depressed).

Once the operator resects the specimen, the need may arrive to isolate the specimen, obtain a lateral margin resection, or to remove specimens from a secondary site. To do so, the two halves of the specimen trap are separated, and the filter is removed and replaced with a new filter and resealed before the next procedure. The specimens in the used filter are then removed and can then be sent to pathology. The EndoRotor System is a product of Interscope (Worcester, MA, USA) and has received the European Community marking of approval.

“The EndoRotor is an exciting invention that would be easier and safer than hot biopsy or snare for flat polyp removal when piecemeal removal is necessary,” said associate Prof. Norio Fukami, MD, of the University of Colorado. “This may be useful for clean up after piecemeal polypectomy or in replacement for cold snare polypectomy.”

Gastrointestinal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a procedure to remove cancerous or other abnormal lesions from the GI digestive tract. During EMR of the upper digestive tract, an endoscope is passed down the throat into the esophagus, stomach, or upper part of the duodenum. To remove lesions from the colon, the tube is guided up through the anus. If cancer is present, EMR can help determine if the cancer has invaded tissues beneath the digestive tract lining.

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