How DSP-Based Connectivity Is Unlocking The Future Of Disposable Distal Chip Endoscopy

As early as 2013, when the CDC sounded the alarm about the association between multi-drug-resistant bacteria and duodenoscopes, the FDA has been urging healthcare providers to consider transitioning to single-use endoscope architecture. The agency viewed this transition as a way to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, particularly in response to persistent concerns over infection transmission from reusable devices.

Since then, major endoscopy manufacturers have stepped up their efforts to accelerate a shift from reusable to disposable endoscopes: Boston Scientific introduced its EXALT™ Model D, a single-use duodenoscope; Ambu has launched a full portfolio of disposable bronchoscopes and cystoscopes; and Olympus released the H-SteriScope™ series as part of its single-use endoscopy offering. There are now single-use variants of many commonly used endoscopes, including bronchoscopes, duodenoscopes, cystoscopes, uretroscopes, gastroscopes, colonoscopes, and rhinoscopes.

Most endoscopes sold today are disposable, but despite their enhanced safety benefits adoption remains uneven, with an estimated 85 to 90 percent of procedures still being conducted using reusable devices. This is primarily due to the superior performance and image quality of reusable scopes. Improving safety alone is not enough. Disposable devices must also offer the same level of performance as reusable ones without adding cost or complexity.

In the past, replicating the performance and image quality of reusable endoscopes in single-use alternatives was difficult. However, that is no longer the primary barrier, as recent advancements have made this level of performance achievable in a disposable format. The real challenge now is finding ways to deliver it at scale without driving up cost. One viable path forward involves using DSP-based connectivity along with semiconductors designed to reduce size and simplify the architecture of the disposable-side serializer.

Designing for High Performance on a Disposable Budget

Disposable scopes must meet strict cost targets, which limits the materials and components available to designers. At the same time, higher resolutions and faster frame rates require high-speed digital transmission from the distal camera tip. This has led to the use of long, thin copper cables to reduce size and cost. However, these smaller conductors increase attenuation, which causes signal degradation over distance. As data rates rise, it becomes more difficult to preserve image quality and maintain system responsiveness. Signal integrity across long links continues to be a major barrier to scaling disposable scopes for advanced clinical use.

Electromagnetic interference from wireless telemetry, nearby monitors, and especially electrosurgical tools adds further complexity. Traditional shielding and grounding techniques offer only limited protection that is simply not effective enough to block high-intensity EMI such as electrosurgical generator (ESG) noise. And even if they were effective, the added weight, cost, and bulk would defeat the purpose of a disposable device. A more effective solution is needed, one that preserves high performance and handles interference digitally, while staying within the cost and size limits of a disposable design.

Why DSP-Based Connectivity Matters

Instead of trying to block interference with shielding, DSP techniques actively correct for it in real time at the chip level. That’s what MIPI A-PHY, a connectivity standard originally developed for automotive cameras, brings to medical device design.

With DSP-based solutions like MIPI A-PHY, high-resolution video, control signals, and power can all be transmitted over a single long, thin cable. This dramatically reduces the cost, size, and weight of the device while maintaining high image quality and real-time responsiveness.

DSP-based connectivity offers several key benefits to the industry:

Cheaper cables and connectors – DSP-based approaches such as chipsets built on the MIPI A-PHY standard enable high-speed data transmission, supporting rates up to 8 Gbps, converging high-resolution video (4K@60fps or beyond), Power, and Controls over a single cable. The connectivity can utilize cabling as thin as 36AWG, for distances of up to 7- 10 meters or more. These solutions also facilitate the transition from multi-wire cables and multi-pin connectors to single-pair wiring and less expensive single-pair connectors.
Stronger noise immunity – Chips based on MIPI A-PHY leverage error correction based on PHY-level dynamic retransmission that can also deal with external noise attacks. Ensuring error-free data transmission improves the reliability of video during endoscopic procedures, a problem which has plagued surgeons for many years. It also provides flawless, uncompressed data upon which AI-based computer-aided detection systems can analyze real-time video to flag potential abnormalities.
Simplified manufacturing – MIPI A-PHY supports modular device architectures by transmitting video, control, and power over a single cable and working across multiple connector types. This allows disposable components to be built and tested separately, then assembled late in production. The result is faster, more scalable manufacturing with lower cost and complexity.

Modular Design: A New Manufacturing Paradigm

The ability to transmit video, power, and data over a single lightweight cable enables the separation of the disposable tip from the reusable backend. This modular approach allows each part to be manufactured, tested, and assembled separately. Not only does this reduce manufacturing costs, but it also supports late-stage assembly closer to the point of use, enabling more flexible supply chains.

Bringing It All Together

The shift to disposable endoscopy is not just about infection control. It’s about making high-performance imaging more accessible, repeatable, and scalable. CMOS image sensors are laying the foundation for smaller and smarter devices. But without a digital connectivity layer that is equally efficient, affordable, and reliable, their full potential can’t be realized.

DSP-based connectivity solutions like MIPI A-PHY offer the missing piece of the puzzle. By simplifying cabling, strengthening immunity, and enabling modular designs, they’re turning the vision of high-performance disposable endoscopy into a scalable reality.