Borescope

Endoscopy is the examination and inspection of the interior of body organs, joints or cavities through a special device called endoscope. The endoscope is a like a borescope, but designed for medical purposes. It uses fiber optics and powerful lens systems to provide lighting and visualization of the interior and just like a borescope, it could be rigid or flexible, depending upon the medical procedure.

The history of endoscopy is quite interesting, as the first device of this kind was developed way back in 1806 by Philip Bozzini with his introduction of a "Lichtleiter" (light conductor) "for the examinations of the canals and cavities of the human body". Initially, this device was not approved, so the first introduction of an endoscope into a human occurred 16 years later, by William Beaumont, an army surgeon at Mackinac Island, Michigan. As years passed, endoscopy evolved. Electric light was introduced in 1908 and that was a huge breakthrough. The next major step forward was made by Basil Hirschowitz who invented a superior glass fiber for flexible endoscopes. The technology resulted in not only the first useful medical endoscope, but the invention revolutionized other endoscopic uses and led to practical fiber optics.

Endoscopy can be used to diagnose various conditions by close examination of internal organ and body structures, including abscesses, bleeding, bronchitis, cancer, cysts, degenerative disease, gallbladder stones, hernia, inflammation, metastatic cancer, polyps, tumors, ulcers, and other diseases.

Nevertheless, this type of procedure involves some risks. Inexpert handling of the endoscope, both rigid and flexible, or the equipment supported by it can lead to punctured organs with variable effects. In case the instruments are not sterilized, infections could occur.

There are different types of endoscopy that exist: -arthroscopy: examination of joints for diagnosis and treatment -bronchoscopy: examination of the trachea and lung's bronchial trees colonoscopy: examination of the inside of the colon and large intestine colposcopy: direct visualization of the vagina and cervix to detect cancer, inflammation, and other conditions -cystoscopy: examination of the bladder, urethra, urinary tract, uteral orifices, and prostate (men) -laparoscopy: visualization of the stomach, liver and other abdominal organs -laryngoscopy: examination of the larynx (voice box) -proctoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, proctosigmoidoscopy: examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon. -thoracoscopy: examination of the pleura (sac that covers the lungs), pleural spaces, mediastinum, and pericardium. Generally, endoscopic procedures are painless, at worst the patient might feel slight discomfort, although if such chances exist, he or she could be sedated. Also, stats show that complications are rare, with only 5% of all operations causing perforation of the organ under inspection.

Upper Endoscopy | Borescope Lens | Camera Lens | Gradient Lens | Optical Lens | Rod Lens |