Estudo da degradação de ponteiras de endoscópios utilizadas em endoscopia digestiva alta.

Abstract

The endoscopic device currently used to study the gastrointestinal tract (the videoendoscope) is the result of nearly 200 years of technological evolution. These endoscopes can not be sterilized by the classical methods. Due to its complexity, the process of cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes is not only a concern of nursing, she became multidisciplinary, since it requires discussion of physical, biological and chemical hazards, both for the patient and for the team. The flexible rubber tip of the endoscope is a key piece to preserve the seal of the endoscope and especially preservation of the patient. This rubber wears out both during the test as the disinfection of equipment that processes attacking the end surface of the material. Your wear or breakage may result in the image generator burns. The replacement of the rubber tip is considered a partial maintenance and must always be performed periodically. Based on the above this work aimed to study and evaluate the degradation occurred in flexible tips of digestive endoscopes undergoing medical procedures. The results can be seen in microscopy, both optical and electronic, rough morphology with the presence of pores to the virgin tip, the tips used for different periods of time there was intensification of these ridges. XRD can observe typical listing a substantially amorphous elastomer, and identify the presence of compounds in the polymer charge. FTIR can prove different structures for the studied samples, leading to the belief that some have polydimethylsiloxane in excess with respect to the fluoroelastomer. EDS can verify the externalization of compounds within the elastomer after the degradation period. In the tensile test was observed decrease in physical properties of the elastomer due to degradation occurred. On test wetting angle was found that even after the degradation process all the samples still had become hydrophobic. In summary, this study observed the need to develop a specific material for use as tips of endoscopes, since on the market apparently has no specific target for biological applications. That is, even in its virgin form the elastomer in question already has factors that do not make their use in biological environment as possible.