When with which fiber optic cable?
A fiber glass cable with a larger opening does not increase the light output of an instrument with a smaller opening. A majority of the users of cold-light cables still believe that a wide-lumen cable (referred to as “thick cable” below) “delivers” more light than a narrow-lumen cable (referred to as “thin cable”below). “After all, more light runs through a thick cable than through a thin cable because there are more fibers available.”A fatal mistake! When selecting your cable, it is imperative you pay heed to the question of its deployment. The following diagram shows that thin fiber optic cables should also be used for thin endoscopes.
Thick endoscopes necessitate thick fiber optic cables.“Thick” means cables with a fiber diameter of 4.9 mm. “Thin” means cables with a fiber diameter of 3.5 mm.A thin endoscope has a “thin” light entry; a thick endoscope has a “thick” light entry. The cables have to be adapted to the respective endoscope.Please also pay attention to the fact that standard cables and SOFTLINE cables can burn in high-energy light sources.
Please note
You will know more than over 80% of your colleagues about fiber optic light cables after reading this information!
Combination possibilities
Combination 1
You use a thick cable with a 4.9-mm fiber diameter.
You use a thin optical device with a 3.5-mm light entry.
Fact: This combination may not be selected under any circumstances because the endoscope’s connecting pieces can become very hot, since light is hitting metal. (heating up). You might destroy your endoscope. (burning at the light entry of the endoscope).
Moreover, the patient may be endangered since the distal end of the optical device might become hot (caution with high-energy light sources).
Combination 2
You use a thin cable with a 3.5-mm fiber diameter.
You use a thick optical device with a 4.9-mm light entry.
Fact: This combination can be opted for, though it’s not advisable since the light yield with “thin cables” is normally not sufficient for laparoscopies.
Combination 3
You use a thin cable with a 3.5-mm fiber diameter.
You use a thin optical device with a 3.5-mm light entry.
Fact: This combination is optimal, since the cable was correctly aligned to the endoscope. Naturally, this combination also works with the same diameters of larger dimensions.
