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Flexible ureteroscopes have been extensively evaluated for imaging characteristics impacting on clarity, visibility, contrast, color accuracy and resolution [1,2,3,4] due to their importance in ensuring treatment efficacy and safety.
One important and central characteristic is illumination originating from the light source of ureteroscopes, which has only been partially evaluated so far. Paradoxically, all studies to date evaluated illumination in air, rather than saline, the native operative medium for endourology [2, 5, 6].
In this topic issue, we present a series of analyses based on in vitro models evaluating core properties related to illumination of flexible ureteroscopes in saline [7,8,9,10]. In each study, a selection of contemporary reusable and single-use scopes were evaluated.
The findings of these studies reveal a wide range of inter and intra-scope differences in illumination properties and highlight some limitations that may serve as a basis for further development of next generation ureteroscopes. How these findings may impact on clinical routine is up for discussion and future evaluation.
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Kwok: Protocol/project development, Data collection or management, Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing. Traxer: Research concept, Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing. Keller: Research concept, Protocol/project development, Data collection or management, Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing.
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Olivier Traxer is a consultant for Coloplast, Karl Storz, Rocamed, Quanta Systems, and IPG Medical, and has no specific conflicts relevant to this study. Etienne Xavier Keller is a speaker and/or consultant for Coloplast, Olympus, and Boston Scientific, and has no specific conflicts of interest relevant to this study. All other authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
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Kwok, JL., Traxer, O. & Keller, E.X. Illumination matters in flexible ureteroscopy: Part I-IV. World J Urol 42, 400 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-024-05113-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-024-05113-y