Disposable Endoscope Cap Maintaining Clear Surgical Visualization under Fogging and Fouling

To address these limitations, we have developed the superlubricious high-clarity interface for endoscopic lens defense cap (SHIELD-C), a single-use snap-on endoscope cap designed to maintain stable endoscopic visualization by forming a durable liquid–liquid interface on the cap surface.

SHIELD-C employs a dual-layer architecture consisting of a covalently grafted polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brush base layer and an infused silicone oil top layer, forming a stable and optically transparent liquid–liquid interface. This configuration maintains high optical clarity (optical transmittance of >90% across the visible range) while effectively suppressing adhesion of blood and mucus (sliding angle of <10°). Importantly, the liquid interface enables rapid intraoperative recovery of surface functionality through simple lubricant replenishment, allowing immediate restoration of visual clarity without interrupting the surgical workflow.