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Arthroscope

An arthroscope is the main instrument used for keyhole surgery of the knee - ie arthroscopy.

Light is shone into the knee through the arthroscope, which has a small lens at the far end to angle the light beam.

The same instrument has attachments to allow an inflow under pressure of sterile water-based fluid to expand and wash the joint, and an outflow under suction to extract any tissue which has been cut away.

At the other end is an attachment for a camera, which relays the image to a monitor, like a TV.

Both arthroscope and instruments are introduced into the knee via small cuts - called portals.