Cost-Effective, High-Definition, Portable Video Endoscopic System

Background and Aim: Fiber optics and digital imaging have provided the tools to create high-end, expensive intraoperative solutions. However, several techniques are readily available that do not require industrial-grade audiovisual recording facilities, although not all are suited to otorhinolaryngologic examination and surgical procedures. The aim of this report is to seek a cost-effective, reliable, portable, high-definition endoscopic solution and estimate the feasibility of a video system for endonasal endoscopy and otologic observations, which is easy to use and portable.

Material and Methods: Xenon light integrated into a USB light cable was attached to a rigid endoscope. An adapter connected the endoscope to a newly available compact high-definition camera that gave endoscopic imaging to a laptop. Evaluation included analyses of video resolution, depth of field, contrast, exposure, image stability, and frame composition, as well as considerations of cost, accessibility, utility, feasibility, and economies of scale.

Results: The image quality for endoscopy was far superior to that of a conventional video system. All sizes of lesions could clearly be visualized on the monitor. The still image obtained from the full digital, high-definition video camera was 1920 × 1080 pixels.

Several video capture options were identified, and the strengths and shortcomings of each were catalogued. A novel application of off-the-shelf technology was devised to address these issues.

Conclusions: High-definition video cameras are now commonplace products and can easily be applied to otolaryngologic patients. They provide superior endonasal images. We found that our system fulfilled these conditions; however, further development is needed to improve our method.