History and Development of Accessories for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

Article information

Clin Endosc. 2017;50(3):219-223
Publication date (electronic) : 2017 May 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.5946/ce.2017.078
Digestive Disease Center and Research Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital , Bucheon, Korea
Correspondence: Bong Min Ko Digestive Disease Center and Research Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, 170 jomaru-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 14584, Korea Tel: +82-32-621-5096, Fax: +82-32-621-5080, E-mail: kopa9445@schmc.ac.kr
Received 2017 May 22; Revised 2017 May 23; Accepted 2017 May 23.

Abstract

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) procedure is composed of circumferential mucosal incision and submucosal dissection. A variety of endoscopic accessories are required to perform mucosal incision and submucosal dissection safely. As a result of the improvements in ESD devices and peripheral equipment and development of the ESD technique, ESD procedures have been performed extensively worldwide. Here I review the history of the development of accessories used in performing ESD procedures.

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a procedure conducted for removing lesions en bloc, regardless of the location, shape, and size of tumors and presence of combined ulcer in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The ESD technique is mainly used for the removal of gastric lesions; however, it has also been recently applied to remove lesions in the esophagus and colorectum. As a result of the improvements in ESD devices and peripheral equipment and the development of the ESD technique, the use of GI ESD has spread extensively worldwide. The technology of ESD is evolving gradually and has made endoscopic resection safer, easier, and more reliable. This report focuses on the history of the development of accessories used in performing ESD procedures for GI lesions using published studies.

KNIVES

The knife used in the ESD technique varies widely worldwide. The devices for ESD are divided into two general categories: needle-knife type and scissors type [1]. Further, ESD knives can be classified into two types, according to the safety tool applied: a blunt tip and a tip-cutting knife [2]. Blunt tip ESD knives include Insulated-tip knife (IT knife, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), Safe Knife V (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan), Mucosectom (Pentax, Tokyo, Japan), and Swan blade (Pentax, Tokyo, Japan) (Fig. 1). Tip-cutting ESD knives include hook knife (Olympus Medical System, Tokyo, Japan), flex knife (Olympus Medical System, Tokyo, Japan), dual knife (Olympus Medical System, Tokyo, Japan), flush knife (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan), and Hybrid knife (ERBE, Erlangen, Germany) (Fig. 2). In Korea, several knives are available for ESD, such as the needle knife, IT knife, hook knife, flex knife, and dual knife. Each of them has some advantage and disadvantage, and their methods of use are different.

Fig. 1.

Blunt tip endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) knives. (A) IT knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (B) Safe Knife V (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan). (C) Mucosectom (Pentax, Tokyo, Japan). (D) Swan blade (Pentax, Tokyo, Japan).

Fig. 2.

Tip-cutting endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) knives. (A) Hook knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (B) Flex knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (C) Dual knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (D) Flush knife BT (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan). (E) Hybrid knife (ERBE, Erlangen, Germany).

Needle knife and IT knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan)

The needle knife was used for endoscopic resection with local injection of hypertonic saline-epinephrine solution (ERHSE), For the mucosal layer incision after saline injection, the use of a simple diathermy needle knife has a high risk for perforation and bleeding. Therefore, safer ESD procedures needed improved instruments. The IT knife was designed to solve problems found during the endoscoic mucosal resection (EMR) and ERHSE techniques for the removal of early gastric cancer tumors at the National Cancer Center Hospital established in the late 1990s.

In 1995, Hosokawa and Yoshida developed and used a new EMR technique using an IT knife (Fig. 3) to remove a large lesion in a single piece completely and obtained good results [3]. The IT knife is still being used for gastric ESD procedures.

Fig. 3.

IT knife series (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (A) Original IT knife. (B) IT knife 2. (C) IT knife nano.

The IT knife 2 (Fig. 3) is an improved version of the IT knife, which Ono et al. developed and published in 2008 [4]. The electrosurgical Olympus IT knife 2™ features a special electrode on the proximal side of the isolated ceramic tip designed to help minimize cutting invasiveness while maximizing cutting abilities in both vertical and horizontal directions.

Flex knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan)

There was a clinical announcement on flex knives in 2003 [5]. The use of the flex knife has been reported to supplement the limitations of the IT knife in early gastric cancer [6]. The electrosurgical Olympus Flex Knife features an adjustable loop designed to deliver cutting flexibility and enable easy incision and dissection in all directions during an ESD procedure.

Hook knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan)

In 2005, Oyama et al. reported a case of esophageal cancer used a hook knife [7]. The electrosurgical Hook Knife features a rotatable, L-shaped hook that allows cutting in horizontal and vertical directions. It can be used for both incisions and dissections and is ideal for cutting fibrous tissues.

Dual knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan)

Recently, the dual knife was further developed. With the addition of a convenient jet, the new and evolved Dual knife J (Fig. 4) can help endoscopists work and reduce the time it takes to perform ESD procedures.

Fig. 4.

Dual knife J (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

Stage beetle (SB) knife (Sumitomo Bakelite, Tokyo, Japan)

In 2010, Honma et al. developed a scissors-type grasping device called an “SB knife” [8] which is mainly used for gastric ESD procedures. The SB knife Jr (Sumitomo Bakelite, Tokyo, Japan) (Fig. 5) can be used for colorectal ESD procedures; these knives are particularly useful for submucosal dissection of lesions. The SB knife has a curved tip that allows to keep the proper dissecting layer and prevents unexpected muscular layer injuries. However, this knife is not widely used in Korea.

Fig. 5.

Stage beetle knife Jr (Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Tokyo, Japan).

Hybrid knife (ERBE, Erlangen, Germany)

An ESD procedure using the hybrid knife was reported in a porcine model in 2009 [9]. This technology allows needleless submucosal infusion and lifting, as well as mucosal incision and coagulation for ESD of mucosal areas without changing the tool. The use of the water jet dissector in combination with the hybrid knife seems to accelerate the ESD procedure and may increase its safety and efficacy according to experimental studies.

Current directions for knife development

Recently, in terms of quality controlled ESD [10], new types of knives or redeveloping knives are trendy and available to perform a submucosal injection during a submucosal dissection (Fig. 6) [11].

Fig. 6.

Each knife for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and its release year. Adapted from Tanaka et al. [11].

DISTAL ATTACHMENT

Endoscopic attachments aid in visualization by maintaining distance from the lesion tissue and provide countertraction that is necessary to enter the submucosal area. Endoscopic distal attachments are either straight (Fig. 7), oblique, or tapered (Fig. 8).

Fig. 7.

Distal attachment (Olympus Medical System, Tokyo, Japan).

Fig. 8.

Development of the ST hood (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan).

The small-caliber tip transparent hood was unveiled in 2003 by Yamamoto and has undergone changes since then [12]. Currently, there has been a great deal of development by the Fujifilm Corporation.

COAGULATION DEVICE

Recently, bleeding vessels are coagulated using coagulation forceps, such as hot biopsy forceps (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), monopolar Coagraspers (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), and bipolar HemoStat-Y (Pentax, Tokyo, Japan).

SUBMUCOSAL INJECTION SOLUTIONS

A submucosal injection fluid is a safety material that avoids deep muscle damages during endoscopic resections. Classical injections are usually sufficient for conventional endoscopic resection; however, it needs more durable and reliable submucosal injection solutions during time-consuming ESD procedures. The efficacy of various viscous and highly osmotic solutions in producing a long-lasting submucosal injection material has been studied. Various submucosal injection solutions, such as dextrose, glycerol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solutions, and MUCOUP (Johnson & Johnson, Tokyo, Japan), are used for ESD procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

The ESD technique and accessories are continuously developing for the removal of GI tumors. The endoscopists performing ESD procedures should receive appropriate training and education according to the changing environment of such procedures.

Notes

Conflicts of Interest: The author has no financial conflicts of interest.

References

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3. Hosokawa K, Yoshida S. [Recent advances in endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer]. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 1998;25:476–483.
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Article information Continued

Fig. 1.

Blunt tip endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) knives. (A) IT knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (B) Safe Knife V (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan). (C) Mucosectom (Pentax, Tokyo, Japan). (D) Swan blade (Pentax, Tokyo, Japan).

Fig. 2.

Tip-cutting endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) knives. (A) Hook knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (B) Flex knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (C) Dual knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (D) Flush knife BT (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan). (E) Hybrid knife (ERBE, Erlangen, Germany).

Fig. 3.

IT knife series (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). (A) Original IT knife. (B) IT knife 2. (C) IT knife nano.

Fig. 4.

Dual knife J (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

Fig. 5.

Stage beetle knife Jr (Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Tokyo, Japan).

Fig. 6.

Each knife for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and its release year. Adapted from Tanaka et al. [11].

Fig. 7.

Distal attachment (Olympus Medical System, Tokyo, Japan).

Fig. 8.

Development of the ST hood (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan).