ENDOSCOPIC INSTRUMENTATION: EVOLUTION, PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES AND CLINICAL ASPECTS

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Abstract
The scope and success of endoscopic surgery has relied heavily on the development of sophisticated endoscopes and their accessories. In this section the principles of optical physics, optical design specifications and construction are considered. The development of endoscopes from the ‘dark ages’ of the 19th century is briefly outlined. If endoscopic surgery is to replace conventional surgery then teaching techniques become nearly as important as merely performing them. This aspect is also discussed. There is an ever increasing demand to expand the surgical possibilities of instrumental accessories and there has been a trend to move away from simple mechanical actions and to replace these by the products of applied technology, lasers, diathermy, ultrasonic power, hydraulic power, radiation and microwave energy. The control of these modalities has gross implications for endoscopic design and will undoubtedly undergo major improvements in the next decade. The final section deals with endoscopic documentation which is becoming increasingly more important as the picture quality improves and the speed of re-production can be reduced to a number of seconds.

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