Endoscopy refers to looking inside the human body using an endoscope.

Endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic technique used to assess the interior surfaces of an organ by inserting a tube into the body. The instrument may have a rigid (borescope) or flexible tube (fiberscope) and not only provide an image for visual inspection, photography and video-scopy, but also enable taking biopsies and retrieval of foreign objects. Endoscopy is the vehicle for minimally invasive surgery.

Principle of endoscopy

An endoscope comprises an eyepiece, the ocular, producing a parallel exit bundle or virtual image and light source to illuminate the object on one end. At the other end is an objective lens producing a real image. Both are linked by a tube mounting an optical fiber system So, the fundamental principle of operation is transmitting optical information through a bundle of optical fibers such that an image can be observed. However, a classical boroscope may comprise instead of the fiber system a whole series of lenses as transmission system. Basically, an endoscope is a kind of microscope.

The light source may provide wide band visible light, whether or not spectrally scanned, and for specific applications narrow band, (near) IR light. For Fluorescence (natural or artificial), e.g. applied in examination the esophagus, UV light can be used. Often, the light is provided by a Laser. An additional channel allows entry of air, fluid, as well as remote control of medical instruments such as biopsy forceps or cytology brushes.

Background of endoscopy

The first true endoscope was designed and built by German physician Phillip Bozzini in 1805. It was called the lichtleiter (light conductor) and consisted of various examining tubes, including a special cannula for the urethra and bladder, plus a wax candle in a special holder or cradle for illumination. While rudimentary, the lichtleiter did allow direct visual examination of various internal body cavities, including the bladder, which was not otherwise possible at that time. Unfortunately, the device was harshly ridiculed by Bozzini's medical contemporaries, which effectively halted endoscopic development for almost 50 years.

In 1853, French surgeon Antonin Jean Desormeaux used a modified lichtleiter to examine patients primarily for urological problems. A system of mirrors and lenses improved visualization. Instead of a wax candle, he used a much brighter lamp flame from a burning mixture of alcohol and turpentine as a light source, which unfortunately resulted in numerous burns. Nevertheless, this version of the lichtleiter was considered reasonably successful.

The first electrically illuminated endoscope was made by Gustave Trouve in 1869. It used an electrical current to create illumination from a white-hot, glowing, platinum wire and had the light source at the distal tip of the instrument. His polyscope electrique used a rheostat to regulate the electrical current from a battery to adjust the light intensity. It was not very successful as a cystoscope because of heat production, LIMITED duration of battery life, and the need for a dry environment, but it was a start.

German physician Maximilian Nitze designed the first successful modern cystoscope in 1877 and is credited as the father of cystoscopy. Built by Josef Leiter of Vienna and used exclusively for bladder examinations, it also used incandescent lighting provided by an electrically heated platinum wire; however, it added a cooling system of flowing ice water and telescopic lenses for visualization, which solved many of the problems with earlier instruments.

Significance of endoscopy
A . Medicine Endoscopy allows doctors to check for irritation, ulcers, inflammation and abnormal tissue growth in the internal organs. It can be used to close off a blood vessel or remove small growths. It is used to examine a number of different organs, including: the lungs (bronchoscopy) and the central partition of the chest (mediastinoscopy), the stomach (gastroscopy), upper intestine and colon (colonoscopy), the female reproductive organs, including the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes (hysteroscopy) some types of surgery, such as sterilisation, can also be carried out during this procedure.

examination of the foetus in the womb, the abdomen and pelvis (laparoscopy), the inside of the bladder (cystoscopy), the inside of joints, such as the knee (arthroscopy), and the nasal cavity and sinuses surrounding the nose (endoscopy of the nose and throat

B. Industry The planning and architectural community have found the endoscope useful for pre-visualization of scale models of proposed buildings and cities (architectural endoscopy) Internal inspection of complex technical systems (borescope) Endoscopes are also a tool helpful in the examination of improvised explosive devices by bomb disposal personnel. The FBI uses endoscopes for conducting surveillance via tight spaces.

Qualitative
FIG. 7A is a graph illustrating a spectral intensity of illuminating light when a light intensity ratio of LD1:LD2 is 1:4, and FIG. 1B is a graph illustrating a spectral intensity of illuminating light when a light intensity ratio of LD1:LD2 is 4:1. If the light intensity of the LD2 is increased as compared with the light intensity of the LD1, the illuminating light becomes a bluish light and as a result, the color tone of the observation image is changed in accordance with the light intensity ratio.

Therefore, the color tone of observation image is corrected accordance with the color shade of illuminating light that is changed by set light intensity ratio (S6), so that observation image is not affected by change in the color shade of illuminating light.

the in the the the the the

Quantitative
Intensity is measured in terms of Energy of photons. So using the standard equation: E = hf, we can find the relationship between light intensity and wavelength as follows: c = lambda x f Therefore, f = c/lambda

substitute this in the standard equation to get: E = (h c)/lambda Where h = planks constant (Planck's constant = 6.626068 10-34 m2 kg / s), c = speed of light and lambda = wavelength

Limitations of Endoscopy
Small Samples Since the size of the lens of an endoscope is very small in order to fit in the bodys natural openings, the sample it can generate is also limited up to 2 to 3 mm deep.

Possible Complications Some complications may arise when the endoscopic procedure is not properly administered. Poor biopsy technique can damage the internal organs being observed. In addition, too much pressure or force in moving the endoscope can cause complications ranging from perforation and vascular lacerations to excessive bleeding of the mucosa.