KairoScope-E

In the fall of 2017 the Japanese startup of Kairos began sales of the first-ever surgical endoscope with support of 8K-permission — KairoScope-E.

This device is intended for laparoscopy — the transactions executed through small punctures in an abdominal cavity of patients. The endoscope about 5 cm in length also weighs 370 grams. The cost of the device is 60 million yens ($528 thousand). Kairos calculates that by 2020 the company will sell in Japan 300 endoscopes with support 8K annually, Nikkei reports.^[1]

Surgeons work with the endoscope in the operating room using the 70-inch screen, (2017)

The 8K-laparoscope provides a high image quality with permissions by 16 times big, than at traditional endoscopes. It allows surgeons to consider the parts invisible with the naked eye, such as microscopic blood vessels and seams width in the tenth share of a human hair. Besides, when using the 8K-laparoscope there is no need too close to bring the probe to the operated area that provides big freedom of manipulations for surgeons.

The surgical endoscopes used at low-invasive interventions are more and more demanded in the world. Such transactions are less painful for patients and are followed by smaller blood loss, than normal. According to estimates of Fuji Keizai research company, by 2025 the share of devices with support of ultrahigh permission 4K and 8K in a segment of surgical microscopes will reach 30%, and in the market of surgical endoscopes such models will occupy the fifth part.

However, before the similar equipment will gain mass distribution, it will be required to be improved, specialists say. In particular, it is difficult to equip the flexible endoscopes entered into the patient's organism through a mouth or a nose with the powerful optics necessary for 4K and 8K-permissions. Besides, 70-inch displays with which 8K-laparoscopes are usually delivered it is inexpedient to use in limited space of the operating room.

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