ABSTRACT
The body of the endoscope contains controls to direct the tip of the instrument, insufflate air, wash the lens and aspirate air or fluid. The inner, larger, steering control angles the tip of the instrument upwards/downwards and the smaller, outer, control angles the tip from side to side. These controls can be locked into a fixed position individually with braking levers. Occasionally the controls will need to be locked to facilitate biopsy of a lesion but for general use, and certainly during insertion and withdrawal of the endoscope, the direction controls should be allowed to move freely. The valves for insufflation (proximal) and suction (distal) are operated by the surgeon’s index and middle fingers. Control of air insufflation is achieved by occlusion of the valve. The suction valve has two positions. Partial depression applies suction. Complete depression directs a jet of water backwards onto the lens on the endoscope to wash away mucus or debris.
