Boston Scientific 2020-2021

Fluidics in Next-Generation Endoscopes

Endoscopy is a medical procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into a patient’s gastrointestinal tract. Tools threaded through the endoscope are used to perform minimally invasive surgeries. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) is a specialized form of endoscopy, which involves the use of a duodenoscope to perform procedures in the pancreatic and biliary ducts via the duodenum.

Boston Scientific (BSC), a leader in the medical device industry, currently makes many of the disposable tools that are inserted down the working channels of endoscopes to perform procedures. Recently, BSC has made strides towards addressing potential issues of cross contamination due to ineffective reprocessing of reusable duodenoscopes by designing the world’s first single-use duodenoscope, the ExaltTM Model D Single Use Duodenoscope. While Exalt Model D represents an advancement in technology, BSC would like to further improve upon performance of Exalt Model D to maximize user experience. Furthermore, current endoscope handle design, which has not changed in decades, is often less accessible to physicians with smaller hands and can lead to physician hand strain. The 2020-2021 BSC SCOPE team was tasked with redesigning the fluidics system of the Exalt Model D to improve the user experience and accommodate more ergonomic handle designs.

Faculty Advisor

Alisha Sarang-Sieminski

Team Members

Sarah Deng

Lydia Hodges

Leon Santen

Erika Serna