Advances and usefulness of ultra-thin bronchofiberscopes.

We developed new types of ultra-thin bronchofiberscopes, BF-2.2T and BF-2.7T to observe and photograph lesions of 2 mm or less in bronchioli. BF-2.2T and BF-2.7T can be bent to achieve a vertical range of 120 degrees. BF-2.7T has an additional channel for biopsy and can be used to collect cells. The ultra-thin bronchofiberscopes allowed us to observe all cases of peripheral pulmonary carcinoma and to collect cells. We are now studying IL-6, IL-8 and mRNA in cell specimens collected from patients with lung cancer using the ultra-thin bronchofiberscopes. The development of the ultra-thin bronchofiberscopes have allowed remarkable advances in clinical practice and research because these endoscoped allow bronchioles to be observed directly and to collect bronchial epithelial cells from necessary areas for subsequent incubation and cytological assessment.