Used endoscopes

Yeah. So, this is well out of my purview since I don't have any kind of home clinic, and I've never even attended one, or had the opportunity to "play doctor" as a grownup.

But I do think about it... And the invasiveness of being scoped, in various orifices, is certainly something that comes to mind. And I just stumbled across a site that appears to be an aggregator of used equipment of all sorts, but most interesting is the large volume of used scopes out there. The name is "Trout Underground", and here's an example search for `anoscope`: https://troutunderground.com/-/11/8/2776/g17anoscope'e1254'1g19BestMatch'h23e13'31460e16'1/315/

Given the prices of a lot of these pieces is relatively low, I'm curious:

1) Is purchasing used medical scopes a really terrible idea (since you do know where it's been, and you really don't want to go there)?,

2) Are some of them acceptable and some not? (e.g. a used anoscope versus a cystoscope),

3) How does one clean/sterilize such pieces at home? Do you have to purchase sterilization equipment as well? (For the record, this place does have refs to medical office sterilizers as well, so it's not an impossibility)

I dunno about all this, but it sure sounds like a fun idea -- but in the realm of medical fetish, the venn diagram of "fun ideas" and "really stupid ideas" definitely show a significant overlap!

@gflin

As with most things, it depends on what you're doing. Playing carefully and sanely with a vaginal speculum or anoscope, properly cleaned is likely pretty safe. Inserting a colonosco[pe full length is probably pretty damn risky.

With all stainless tools, like speculums, it probably makes little difference whether they are new or used, as long as they are properly sterilized such as by putting them in rolling boiling water for >15 minutes. Chlorox solutions can rust some stainless. Sterilizing a flexible colonoscope is pretty difficult, even for hospitals. They can't be boiled without damage. For all stainless items, I'd use a ceramic lined pot, like enamelware, to avoid electrolytic reactions.

Fairly inexpensive new stainless tools can be bought on eBay. For example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Premium-Grade-Medium-Large-Small-Graves-Vaginal-Speculum-Gynecology/192416983244

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kelly-Anoscope-Proctoscope-22-x-150mm-Rectal-OB-Gynecology-Urology-Instruments/310418575911

Wow trout is amazing, I wonder who their customers are beside us prevs

Sterilization will NOT be accomplished at "rolling boil" temperatures, especially at high altitudes. Bacterial spores will definitely survive.

Autoclaves go to 250F (121C) and the newer ones go to 270F (132C) under 15 pounds pressure. How you clean, wrap and stack instruments in the autoclave also make a big difference in whether everything actually gets sterilized.

If you are using these instruments with ONLY your fluid bonded partner you will be OK, but once you start using them on every Dick and Jane, you will have problems eventually.

I have had several of these type pieces and have some presently that I use regularly.

If they are cleaned properly before use,

they are as safe as any of my enema equipment that goes where the sun doesn't shine

and (I do not have an autoclave for sterilization purposes)...

If you are curious, buy a simple piece and get familiar with it for a bit.

I have never paid more than $50 for an endoscope or rectoscope. Take your time and do not buy high dollar equipment.

Fear not....it stifles your creative juices ! You might be quite happy playing with a new toy for a minimal cost...

If you go to the manufacturer of your device they will often have instructions for care. A common autoclave temperature is 121C, which can be attained at home with a pressure cooker at 15 lbs. You probably should process for 40 minutes just to make sure though.

MAKE SURE WHATEVER you want to high-level disinfect/sterilize (NOT the same thing!) is clean first. You can't disinfect/sterilize a dirty item effectively at home!

Great replies, all. This appears to be good advice from @moliere:

If you go to the manufacturer of your device they will often have instructions for care. A common autoclave temperature is 121C, which can be attained at home with a pressure cooker at 15 lbs. You probably should process for 40 minutes just to make sure though.

I hadn't thought of guidance from the manufacturer, but that makes a lot of sense. Interesting you mentioned using a pressure cooker, as I recently discovered that for smaller items that fit, an Instant Pot can make an excellent alternate-use sterilizer!

Ok, now this is really weird -- and probably doesn't have anything to do with a home clinic, but it stems from the link I posted above to "Trout Underground". The key question is asked by @superego

Wow trout is amazing, I wonder who their customers are beside us pervs

Guess what? I think that might be exactly who they're targeting. Check it out ... if you're there and click on the title/name in the corner, or just go to http://troutunderground.com guess what you find?

Fishing and Hunting Experiences

Trout Underground is a ane-stop shop for planning and booking a fishing and hunting trips.

Also, that's not my error -- the front page of that business has a typo in their sub-heading ("ane-stop" rather than "one-stop").

Enter in a location, and you see a site very similar to the one I linked in the original post, but a little prettier and cleaner, and focused entirely on... hunting and fishing expeditions.

So the "Trout Underground" link I originally included is even more Underground than I thought!

I don't know what to make of this, if anything, but ... it sure is wild to discover it!