Endoscopy
Endoscopes are used by specialists to visually examine, diagnose and treat many different body cavities and internal organs. Permanent improvements of the optics and design of endoscopes make it possible for the surgeon to tackle benign and malignant disorders using an endoscope, with a less invasive approach than used to be the case.
New endoscopic imaging technology and miniaturization of charge coupled devices (CCD's) for endoscopic use, offer exciting avenues for research, diagnostics and surgery. High resolution magnification endoscopy and optical biopsy devices are becoming reality. A variety of rigid and flexible endoscopes and subsequent procedures exist, including bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, cystourethroscopy, ERCP, esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, hysteroscopy, laryngoscopy, nephroscopy, sigmoidoscopy, upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, ureteroscopy etc.
Advances in endoscopic technology and instrumentation have led to a wide variety of new applications for minimally invasive endoscopic surgical procedures. QLT product specialists predict that the next few years will bring new minimally invasive endoscopic alternatives for early cancer detection, resection and palliation of malignant tissue aberrations.
