By Kelsey Matthews
Purpose Diagnostics- take images, samples, biopsies Diagnosis of conditions like stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, internal bleeding and cancer. Surgery- simple surgeries and cuts inside the body
Early History long rigid tube, light on the end to illuminate a body cavity or organ brighter light to add enough visibility for image documentation 1960s- fiber optics introduced, images transmitted, more flexible, steerable end the magnification and projection of images onto television screens
Current State of Art a long, flexible tube, a fiber optic light a camera lens another channel that can be used for other medical instruments if necessary
State of art cont. Entrance: anus, the throat, the urethra, or a small incision in the skin minutes long Outpatient procedure
Advantages Short recovery time, little to no post-op pain More precision for surgeon Little blood, no need for stitches
Disadvantages Slight chance for perforations and other damage to organs Possibility of infection at sight of incision or along path of endoscope
Future Disposable endoscope Capsule endoscope 3D endoscopy for imaging and measurements
Bibliography The Better Health Channel. Wikipedia: Endoscopy. Medical News Today < newstoday.com/articles/ php> Roberts-Thomson IC, Singh R, Teo E, Nguyen NQ, Lidums I. The future of endoscopy. J Gastroenterol Hepatol Hart R, Classen M. Complications of diagnostic gastrointestinal endoscopy. PubMed. 1990, 22(5):