The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first fully disposable duodenoscope, according to an article on the Infection Control Today article.
Because you use it once and then toss it out, thereby eliminating the possibility that infection by the device might be spread to the next patient.
The FDA has been pushing for upgrades in duodenoscopes, urging manufacturers and healthcare facilities to come up designs for partially- or fully- disposable devices.
In October, Healio Gastroenterology reported that a group of 7 expert endoscopists gave the device good overall marks.
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